'Beware scam messages,' says Burke law enforcement

Local law enforcement agencies are letting residents know to beware of text message scams from supposed state agencies. 

Scammers are impersonating different state agencies through text and social media messages, phone calls, and emails. These attempts are falsely claiming that you owe unpaid fines, fees, or tolls to gather personal and financial information. 

Use caution when receiving a notification regarding:

• N.C. D.M.V. (NC Division of Motor Vehicles)
• N.C. D.O.T. (NC Department of Transportation)
• Jury duty
• Court appearances or warrants
• Bond requests
• Bitcoin or cryptocurrency payments
• Payment of back taxes
• Adding money to a gift card for any reason

What should you do if you receive a scam message or email? Here's advice from law enforcement:

• Do not click any links in the message
• Do not provide any personal or financial information
• Delete the message or email immediately

These scams use language such as "final notice" or threatening penalties in attempts to scare individuals to hand over information. 

If you suspect that a message is a scam, you can report it to:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ 
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) - https://www.ic3.gov/