During the June 9 Health & Safety Committee meeting, Vermilion Police Chief Chris Hartung warned residents about a scam making the rounds in Ohio.
Scammers are sending text messages claiming to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles—but as Chief Hartung pointed out, Ohio doesn’t have a DMV. We have the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Hartung emphasized that the Ohio BMV will never send text messages requesting personal information or payment. The department received at least one complaint locally, confirming the scam has reached Vermilion.
If you get a text about a traffic ticket or anything else from someone claiming to be with the BMV:
- Do not respond
- Do not click any links
- Delete the message
For more information, visit the official Ohio BMV page: https://bit.ly/45i4Wc0
To report a scam locally, call the Vermilion Police Department at 440-967-6116.
