The Dubois County Clerk’s Office has issued a public warning after local residents received scam texts purporting to come from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The messages, often tagged with the phrase “Final Notice,” attempt to prompt recipients into providing personal data by directing them to fraudulent links.

County officials say these texts are not from the BMV and that their intent is to harvest sensitive information. To reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud, the Clerk’s Office advises residents to ignore the messages and to refrain from clicking any embedded links. For anyone seeking to check records or confirm ticket information, officials recommend using the state’s official online resources at myBMV.in.gov and mycase.in.gov, or by contacting the Dubois County Clerk’s Office for assistance.

The warning reflects the intersection of statewide administrative services and local court administration. The BMV handles driver licensing and vehicle records at the state level, while the county clerk manages local court dockets and traffic ticket processing. Scammers exploit this overlap by imitating recognizable agencies and using urgent language such as “Final Notice” to pressure recipients into quick action. That sense of urgency is a common feature of phishing schemes and increases their likelihood of success among residents who regularly interact with BMV services or municipal citations.

Local impact is practical and immediate: residents who fall for such scams can face stolen personal data, unauthorized financial charges, or cascading fraud that affects credit and legal standing. The Clerk’s Office’s advisory is aimed at protecting vulnerable populations in Dubois County, including older residents and those who rely frequently on vehicle or court services, who may be more likely to respond to urgent-sounding notices.

Institutionally, the alert underscores the role of local government offices in defending civic infrastructure and public trust. By directing people to official portals like myBMV.in.gov and mycase.in.gov, county officials are encouraging residents to use authenticated channels for government business, which both reduces fraud risk and preserves accurate administrative records. The Clerk’s Office also positions itself as a local point of contact that can answer questions and help residents verify whether a notice or citation is legitimate.

Residents who receive suspicious messages should not engage with them and should follow the Clerk’s Office’s guidance to confirm any outstanding issues through official websites or direct contact with county offices. Staying vigilant and relying on verified government portals remain the best immediate protections against these impersonation scams.