What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Text From Someone Claiming to Be Minnesota DMV

Minnesota DMV does not send unsolicited text messages asking you to click links, verify information, or pay fees. If you receive a text claiming to be from "Minnesota DMV," "MN DMV," or similar, it is a scam. The message may ask you to update your driver's license, confirm your address, pay a renewal fee, or verify your identity — none of these are real DMV requests by text.

The scammer's goal is to steal your personal information, driver's license number, Social Security number, or payment card details. Once you click the link or provide information, criminals can use it to commit identity theft, open accounts in your name, or drain your bank account.

Report the scam text to Minnesota authorities and the federal government. Reporting does not reverse the scam if you already clicked or paid, but it helps law enforcement track patterns and shut down the operation faster.

Key Takeaways

  • Minnesota DMV never initiates contact by text message to ask for personal information, verification, or payment.
  • Report scam texts to the Minnesota Attorney General's office and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using their online forms.
  • Forward the scam text to your phone carrier's abuse reporting number (usually 7726, which spells SPAM) to block similar messages.
  • If you clicked a link or entered information, change your passwords when ready and monitor your credit report for fraudulent accounts.
  • Do not reply to the scam text, click any link, or call any number in the message — this confirms your number is active and leads to more scams.

Report to the Minnesota Attorney General

The Minnesota Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles scam reports from state residents. You can report the scam text online through their website without having to call or mail anything in.

Go to the Minnesota Attorney General's website and look for the "Report Consumer Fraud" or "File a Complaint" section. You will need to provide the phone number the text came from, the date and time you received it, the exact text of the message, and your contact information. Take a screenshot of the text before you report it, in case you need to reference it later.

The Attorney General's office does not always respond to individual reports, but they use the data to identify patterns and pursue larger scam operations. Your report becomes part of a public record that helps other Minnesotans understand what scams are active.

Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC is the federal agency that tracks scams across all states. Their database helps them identify which scams are spreading fastest and which criminals are behind them. Reporting to the FTC takes about five minutes and requires no follow-up from you.

Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov and select "Other" or "Imposter Scam" as the category. Describe what happened: that you received a text claiming to be from Minnesota DMV, what the message asked you to do, and whether you clicked the link or provided information. Include the phone number the text came from and the date you received it. The FTC will ask for your email address but does not require your name.

The FTC publishes scam trends quarterly and shares data with state attorneys general and law enforcement. If many people report the same scam, the FTC may issue a public alert or work with phone carriers to block the number.

Block the Number and Report to Your Phone Carrier

Forward the scam text to 7726 (which spells SPAM on your phone keypad). This is the standard abuse reporting number for all major U.S. phone carriers — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others. Forwarding the message to 7726 takes five seconds and alerts your carrier to block similar messages from that number.

After forwarding to 7726, delete the message and block the number in your phone's contacts. On most phones, you can block a number by opening the text thread, tapping the three dots or "More" menu, and selecting "Block" or "Block Number." This prevents the scammer from sending you follow-up messages.

If you receive many scam texts, ask your carrier whether they offer a spam-filtering service. Most carriers offer free or low-cost filters that catch known scam numbers before they reach your phone.

What to Do If You Clicked the Link or Entered Information

If you clicked a link in the scam text, change your passwords when ready — especially for your email, banking, and any accounts tied to your Social Security number or driver's license. Use a computer or phone that was not used to click the link, if possible. Do not change passwords on the device that received the scam text until you are sure it is not compromised.

If you entered your driver's license number, Social Security number, or date of birth, place a fraud alert on your credit file. Contact one of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — and ask for a fraud alert. You only need to contact one; they will notify the other two. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name.

If you provided a credit card or debit card number, contact your bank or card issuer when ready. Tell them the card number may have been compromised and ask them to cancel it and issue a replacement. Monitor your account statements for the next 60 days for charges you did not make.

If you paid money through a wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, contact the service when ready and report the transaction as fraud. Most services can freeze the account or reverse the transfer if you act within a few hours. If the money has already been sent, law enforcement may be able to trace it, but recovery is unlikely.

How to Verify Real Minnesota DMV Communications

Minnesota DMV communicates with you through the mail, email, or phone calls — never by text message. If you need to renew your license or registration, you will receive a postcard in the mail with instructions. The postcard will have the official Minnesota DMV logo and a mailing address you can verify on the state website.

If Minnesota DMV needs to contact you by phone, they will call from a number you can verify by calling the main DMV line at 651-297-2126. Never call a number that appears in a text message. If you are unsure whether a communication is real, hang up and call the DMV's main number yourself.

Minnesota DMV will never ask you to pay a fee by text, wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. All legitimate DMV fees are paid in person at a DMV office, by mail with a check, or through the official Minnesota DMV website using a credit or debit card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the scammer do anything with just my phone number?

A scammer with your phone number can send you more scam texts and may try to use it to reset passwords on your accounts. They cannot access your bank account or open credit cards with just a phone number, but they can use it to target you with more scams or sell it to other scammers. Block the number and do not respond.

What if I already paid the scammer?

Report the payment method when ready — if it was a credit card, call your card issuer; if it was a bank transfer or wire, contact your bank and the receiving bank. If you sent money through a gift card or cryptocurrency, contact that service's fraud team. Law enforcement can sometimes recover money, but the longer you wait, the less likely recovery becomes. File a report with the FTC and Minnesota Attorney General regardless.

Will reporting the scam get my money back?

Reporting does not directly return your money, but it creates an official record that law enforcement can use to pursue the scammer. Some scam operations are shut down and assets are recovered, but this takes months or years. Report anyway — it helps protect other Minnesotans and increases the chance the operation is eventually dismantled.

Is it safe to reply to the scam text and tell them to stop?

No. Replying confirms your phone number is active and monitored, which tells the scammer to send more messages. It may also trigger an automated response that installs malware or collects more information. Do not reply, click links, or call numbers in scam texts. Block and delete instead.

What if the text came from what looks like an official Minnesota DMV phone number?

Scammers can spoof phone numbers to make them appear to come from legitimate sources. If you receive a text claiming to be from Minnesota DMV, it is a scam regardless of what number it appears to come from. Real DMV communications come by mail or through the official website, not by unsolicited text. Report it and block the number.