With millions of Americans expected to hit the road for Memorial Day, U.S. highway and traffic safety regulators are warning drivers to beware of fake traffic ticket scams.
According to AAA, 39.1 million people are projected to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend this year, which will exceed the 39 million Americans who took a road trip during the holiday last May.
“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite high fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel over the holidays.”
With an expected increase in car travel for the upcoming holidays, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning drivers to be wary of electronic scams involving text messages or emails claiming to provide information about traffic violations.
“NHTSA does not issue traffic tickets and will never text, call or email any member of the public regarding any traffic violation,” the agency said in a statement. “Traffic violations are issued by state and local governments and law enforcement agencies. NHTSA is the federal vehicle safety regulator and does not issue any traffic fines to drivers.”
How to Spot Traffic Ticket Scams
According to the NHTSA, “Government fraud scammers often use fear and pressure to force you to take immediate action.” The agency recommended paying attention to the following potential red flags:
- Demand for specific, non-traditional payment methods: “Governments will not demand that you make payments through gift cards, cryptocurrencies, wire transfers, or digital payment apps,” NHTSA said.
- Use of threats: “Scammers may threaten to arrest you, immediately suspend your driver’s license, impose hefty fines, or refer your case to debt collectors,” the agency said.
- Asks for personal information: “NHTSA does not call or text anyone to ask for Social Security numbers, bank account details or credit card numbers,” the agency said.
What to do if you suspect a traffic ticket scam
NHTSA said Americans should take the following steps if they suspect a message they receive is a traffic ticket scam:
- Hang or remove: “If you receive a suspicious call or text, do not engage with it. Hang up immediately or delete the message. Do not click on any links in the text or email,” the agency said.
- Verify Source: “If you are concerned about a vehicle issue, check the official information yourself,” NHTSA said. “To check a safety recall using your VIN or license plate, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.”
- Report Fraud: “If you have been contacted by someone pretending to be from NHTSA, report it to your local police, your state’s consumer protection office, and the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov,” the agency said.
Reporting by Keith Lang, USA TODAY/USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect