Ohio officials are warning residents about a new identity theft scheme targeting people across the country.In a warning to residents, the Ohio Department of Public Safety said the scheme was first identified in Texas earlier this year. The department said scammers will use stolen personal information to answer security questions to get access to online Bureau of Motor Vehicles accounts.Once they get into a person's account, they request a driver’s license or identification card reprint be mailed to a new address.“This scheme is incredibly concerning, not only because criminals are ordering up legitimate driver’s licenses but because they can use these cards and the stolen personal information to potentially access your bank account,” Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson said in a statement. “If you receive a postcard from the Ohio BMV telling you about an address change that you did not request, it’s important that you immediately take action.”Officials said the scheme has resulted in thousands of replacement driver's licenses being sent to unauthorized parties using the stolen information.Officials have already reached out to 90 residents whose information was stolen. It's unclear right now where the stolen information is being obtained from. The department is continuing to monitor for any scammer activity and said that if anyone receives a postcard from the BMV notifying you of online profile changes that you did not request, you should call the BMV at 1-(844)-644-6268.
Ohio officials are warning residents about a new identity theft scheme targeting people across the country.
In a warning to residents, the Ohio Department of Public Safety said the scheme was first identified in Texas earlier this year. The department said scammers will use stolen personal information to answer security questions to get access to online Bureau of Motor Vehicles accounts.
Once they get into a person's account, they request a driver’s license or identification card reprint be mailed to a new address.
“This scheme is incredibly concerning, not only because criminals are ordering up legitimate driver’s licenses but because they can use these cards and the stolen personal information to potentially access your bank account,” Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson said in a statement. “If you receive a postcard from the Ohio BMV telling you about an address change that you did not request, it’s important that you immediately take action.”
Officials said the scheme has resulted in thousands of replacement driver's licenses being sent to unauthorized parties using the stolen information.
Officials have already reached out to 90 residents whose information was stolen. It's unclear right now where the stolen information is being obtained from.
The department is continuing to monitor for any scammer activity and said that if anyone receives a postcard from the BMV notifying you of online profile changes that you did not request, you should call the BMV at 1-(844)-644-6268.
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