If you recently received a text about “State Code 15c-16.003,” be aware that these messages are designed to steal your personal or financial information.
In May, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias warned about text messages claiming to be from the Illinois DMV. These messages threaten to suspend vehicle registration and driving privileges and are designed to trick residents into providing information, according to Giannoulias.
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“Phishing scams are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent threat in our modern society, seeking to cheat Illinoisans out of their personal information and hard-earned money,” Giannoulias said. “Please remain vigilant to avoid these scams and report them to protect yourself and others from falling victim to fraud schemes.”
In recent months, officials across the country have begun to warn residents about texts specifically citing a variation of “Code 15c-16.003.”
In a May Facebook post, the Illinois State University Police Department warned of the scam.
“‘Illinois State Code 15C-16.003’ doesn’t exist,” the post reads. “They really tried to sound official with this one.”
The Algonquin Police Department shared screenshots of these texts on Facebook.
“In accordance with Illinois State Administrative Code 15C-16.003, if you do not complete payment by May 27, 2025, we will take the following actions,” part of the message reads.
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But these messages have stretched beyond Illinois.
The West Virginia DMV also warned of a text message scam citing “West Virginia Administrative Code 15C-16.003,” and the Alabama Department of Revenue has urged residents to ignore and delete messages that contain “Alabama State Administrative Code 15C-16.003.”
According to Giannoulias, the DMV only sends text messages to remind residents about appointments, not about the status of driver’s licenses or vehicle registration. Giannoulias encouraged reporting scam attempts to the Federal Trade Commission online.