SCDMV toll scam: New Scam Targeting South Carolina Residents
June 9, 2025—A new scam is making the rounds in South Carolina.
Currently referred to as the “SCDMV toll scam,” this phishing campaign is actively spreading across South Carolina.
It uses official-looking messages that impersonate the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) to mislead recipients.
In short:
- Scammers send texts about fake unpaid traffic tickets.
- Messages cite legal codes and deadlines to seem official and create urgency.
- They threaten fines or legal action if payment isn’t made.
- Links mimic scdmvonline.com and lead to fake payment sites.
- The goal is to trick people into clicking harmful links or sending money.
What the scam messages look like
Users have reported receiving suspicious text messages that claim to be from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles and cite legal references like “South Carolina Administrative Code 15C-16.003” to create a false sense of legitimacy.
They also warn of severe consequences if payment isn’t made within a day of receiving it:
- DMV reporting
- Vehicle registration suspension
- Suspension of driving privileges
- Transfer to toll booth collections with extra charges
- Even prosecution.
This isn’t the first time scammers have impersonated the SCDMV to trick people—a similar attempt was made just a few weeks ago.
The scam messages sent to South Carolina residents follow the same pattern as similar attempts we’ve seen in other states, like New Jersey.
This suggests they’re part of a larger scheme, and other states are likely next on their list.
How we identified the scam activity
How do we know the scam is gaining traction?
Our team is actively monitoring multiple sources for signs of emerging scams—one of them being Google Trends.
Here’s what we’ve found:
- The search term “SCDMV toll scam” has seen a significant spike in traffic between June 8 and June 9, 2025.
- The “interest over time” surged twice, indicating that these scam texts were sent on a mass scale in at least two batches.
Likely victims of the campaign
These types of phishing campaigns often send messages out on a massive scale, much like the “spaghetti on the wall” tactic, hoping something sticks.
The groups most vulnerable tend to be:
- Older adults, who may be less familiar with digital scams
- New drivers or recent residents, unfamiliar with local traffic systems
- People under financial stress, who may act quickly out of fear of fines or legal trouble.
Next steps for potential victims
There is no official connection between these messages and the SCDMV—it does not handle fines.
Targeted individuals should not click any links or respond—when it comes to scams like this, it’s best to ignore the message.
- scdmvonline.com is not for paying traffic or toll fines.
- For tolls → use the specific toll agency’s payment system.
In the meantime, affected individuals can report any suspicious messages to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help them track and respond to new scam activity.
