SALEM — State and local officials have issued warnings for residents about recent phishing scams masquerading as the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The BMV issued a press release in response to “reports of a possible texting scam being perpetrated on Ohioans … from scammers claiming to be from Ohio BMV” which claim that the recipient has outstanding traffic fines and advising “the recipient to pay immediately to avoid a license suspension.” The release notes that these messages are part of a phishing scam being reported by drivers nationwide which intends “to trick residents into giving up personal or financial information.”

“If you receive this text, do not fall for this scam,” said Ohio BMV Registrar Charlie Norman. “Do not click any links and delete the text. Ohio BMV will never send you a text demanding payment or requesting your personal information.”

The release also reminds Ohioans that they can report attempted scams to the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov, and that “If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency.”

The Salem Police Department also issued a statement warning residents about the scams on their Facebook page Tuesday, which provides residents with common traits of these types of scams to be on the lookout for.

“These messages often: Claim to be from the BMV or DMV; say something urgent like “You still have an outstanding traffic ticket” or “pay a fine;” include a link that leads to a fake website to steal your personal or financial info,” reads the statement.

The statement stresses that if residents receive such a message, they should delete it immediately and should not click on any links, nor should they reply to the message. The statement also instructs anyone who has clicked on the link or entered information in response to one of these scam texts to contact their bank or credit card provider to monitor their accounts for fraudulent activity.

mahart@mojonews.com