The City of Upper Arlington Mayor’s Court has received an increase in calls from residents concerned about suspicious text messages claiming to be from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). These messages typically state that the recipient has an outstanding traffic ticket and must pay immediately to avoid having their driver’s license suspended. Please be advised this is a scam.

According to the Ohio BMV, this is a phishing attempt aimed at tricking individuals into providing personal or financial information. The BMV does not send text messages demanding payment or requesting personal data.

If you receive a text like this:
• Do not click on any links
• Do not respond or share any information
• Delete the message immediately

If you’re ever unsure about a communication related to a traffic citation issued in Upper Arlington, please contact Mayor’s Court directly at 614-583-5060 for verification. Scam attempts should also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

If you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam, please contact the Upper Arlington Police Division at 614-459-2800.