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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Citizens receiving text messages with documents from either the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles or the Fairfax County General District Court are being scammed, according to a message from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
The Augusta sheriff’s office has displayed the two fake documents that have what appear to be official letterheads, and each has QR codes the sheriff’s office warns not to scan.
They lead to malicious websites that try to steal information.
One is crafted to looks like it comes from the Virginia DMV with a exclamation at the top that says “Final Court-Ordered Mandatory Collection Notice”.
It says all compliance deadlines “have expired in full, no extensions, no grace periods, and no exceptions will be granted under Virginia law”.
While the Commonwealth of Virginia seal is at the top, there are no addresses or any other contact information other than the QR code.
Another bogus document distributed appears to be from the Fairfax County General District Court.
It purports to be “Final Notice — Court Enforcement Action”, and has a Judge Michael Rodriguez name on the top.
A list of the Fairfax County General District Court, nor Circuit Court, judges that name on their list.
Neither the DMV nor a Virginia court will issue a notice and try to collect money through a link in a text message.
The sheriff’s office advised anyone receiving any of these messages to, first, never scan the QR code, and then delete the message and block the number.