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Did you get a text message Thursday about failure to pay a traffic ticket? 
Across Oahu, many residents received a similarly worded text that started with “Hawaii MVD Final Warning” and included a long list of penalties that would be incurred if the recipient didn’t click on a link to resolve a traffic ticket via “official channels” by Friday, Feb. 13. 
About two hours after many Oahu residents received the text message, the office of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi sent out a release informing people that the message is a scam. 
There is no way to know how many people may have received the text, according to Ian Scheuring, deputy communications director for the mayor, in an email to Spectrum News Hawaii. However, he said, enough people received the message to warrant issuing a release.
This is the second time this month a fake text scam text has been sent to Oahu residents regarding non-existent traffic citations allegedly from the “Department of Motor Vehicles.”
“We are urging people who have fallen for this scam to contact their banking or credit institution immediately and secure their account, including changing their passwords,” said Ian Scheuring, deputy communications director for the Honolulu mayor, in an email to Spectrum News Hawaii. “Victims of financial crimes are also encouraged to notify the Honolulu Police Department and report these instances to law enforcement.”
Officials remind the public that Honolulu’s Division of Motor Vehicles does not send unsolicited text messages or requests for payments and personal information. Residents are advised to block the sender and delete the message without replying. 
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at [email protected].

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