Social media users are warned not to fall into fake online ads, which are California Motor Vehicle Department and offer registration renewal at a discounted price.
DMV said Wednesday that residents reported seeing deceptive social media ads claiming renewing vehicle registration at a 50% discount.
Fact check: State law prohibits DMV from offering discounted vehicle registration renewal.
Deceptive advertising requires personal information, including the last five digits of your full name, license plate number and vehicle registration number.
To take advantage of what is called a service, you are required to pay through the peer-to-peer transaction service cash application.
Fact check: DMV will never ask for personal information or payments through unofficial channels such as social media sites and transaction applications.
To pay the State Council for vehicle registration renewal, you can:
“The safest way to renew a vehicle registration is through the official DMV website directly,” DMV director Steve Gordon said in a statement.
DMV recommends that you take the following steps to avoid recent online scams:
- Avoid participating in any discounted DMV services. DMV does not offer special transactions through unauthorized third parties or social media.
- Never respond to unsolicited or suspicious messages. If you receive a direct email asking for personal or financial information, please do not reply.
- Verify the source of a post, message, or ad. If you are unsure about the legality of your online post, you can contact DMV by calling (800) 777-0133.
