TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is alerting drivers about a new text message scam circulating across the state, this time claiming that recipients have unpaid traffic tickets.

According to the agency, the scam attempts to pressure drivers into clicking a fraudulent link, warning that failure to pay immediately will result in the suspension of their driver’s license and vehicle registration.

Officials say the messages are fake and could expose victims to identity theft and financial loss.

“This is often the entry point into your life getting a lot worse, because they’ll collect small pieces of information,” Danny Jenkins, a cybersecurity expert with ThreatLocker, said in an earlier interview with News 6.

The Better Business Bureau is also urging consumers to remain cautious.

“When you receive a text like this — I’ve gotten them too — you want to first look at where it came from,” said Holly Salmons, president and CEO of BBB Central Florida. “There may be very clear indicators, when you look at the source, that this is just an opportunity to swipe and delete.”

The DMV emphasizes it does not contact drivers via text message to demand payment or threaten arrest.

If you receive a suspicious message, experts say the following: Do not click any links, do not share personal or financial information, and report the message to your local law enforcement agency.

The warning comes just weeks after a similar scam targeting toll violations spread throughout the state.

Officials recommend verifying any legitimate ticket or DMV-related notice directly through the agency’s official website: flhsmv.gov .

Stay with News 6 for updates on consumer alerts and public safety warnings .