Fraudulent Text Messages Impersonating MVD Target New Mexico Residents

New Mexico residents are being targeted by fraudulent text messages designed to look like official communications from the Motor Vehicle Division, according to a consumer advisory issued March 10.

Columnist Rebecca Rutherford raised the alarm in her "Catch Of The Week" feature, which was highlighted on the Daily Post home page. The advisory identified the scam as a text-based impersonation of the MVD, a tactic that preys on residents who may have legitimate pending business with the agency, such as vehicle registration renewals or license-related matters.

The research notes available on this scam are limited in technical detail, but the core warning is clear: if a text message arrives claiming to be from the MVD and asking for action or personal information, treat it with serious skepticism. The actual New Mexico MVD conducts business through its official channels, and the agency does not typically initiate contact through unsolicited text messages.

Rutherford's advisory did not specify what the fraudulent messages request from recipients, but smishing schemes of this type, where criminals impersonate government agencies via text, commonly seek personal identification details, payment information, or prompt victims to click links that harvest credentials.

Los Alamos County residents who receive suspicious texts claiming to be from the MVD should avoid clicking any embedded links and refrain from providing personal or financial information in response. Any suspicious message can be reported to the New Mexico Attorney General's office or the Federal Trade Commission.