The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is warning citizens that scammers are targeting Tennesseans with fake text messages and emails that claim recipients owe unpaid tickets. These fraudulent messages include links that appear to lead to official state websites, sometimes using similar-looking URLs, but they are designed to steal personal and financial information. The scammers create a sense of urgency to pressure people into acting quickly without thinking.

If you receive such a message, do not click the link, do not enter any personal or payment details, and delete the message immediately. When in doubt, don’t click. Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimized should report it to local law enforcement.