SUBJECT: DMV Scam Alert
DATE: June 5th, 2025
GENERAL NARRATIVE
The Kingsport Police Department is aware of a scam where citizens are receiving text messages from individuals who are representing themselves as the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In these messages, an example of which is included below, the scammers are indicating that you, the contacted person, have an outstanding traffic ticket that has not been paid. The message states that vehicle registrations and driving privileges will be suspended if payment is not received, and them they provide a website link where you can remit payment. DO NOT CLICK THE LINK. The Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles does not communicate in this fashion and will always send out information in the form of emails that end with @tn.gov. Also, citizens are encouraged to always call any government agency to double check that any communication they have received is from the corresponding agency.
Several legitimate phone numbers for the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles can be found at https://www.tn.gov/safety/contact.html. We here at the Kingsport Police Department encourage our citizens to be careful in clicking any suspicious links, especially ones that do not end with a .gov web address.
RELEASING OFFICER
Corporal Brandon Arnold
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit
Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749
BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov