PHOENIX – Arizona sometimes likes to do things differently – like having a Motor Vehicle Division instead of a Department of Motor Vehicles.

But what might seem like a simple name difference can lead the unsuspecting to unauthorized websites and scams when they’re simply searching for ways to do business online with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

That’s because many people may reflexively do a web search for the “Arizona DMV” or something similar, and that can lead them to websites that aren’t affiliated with the MVD.

“ServiceArizona.com is the only authorized web portal for the MVD, and people need to be wary of imitation sites that could be a scam,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards.

She added, “There are fraudulent websites falsely offering motor vehicle services such as Arizona driver licenses, IDs, and vehicle titles and registration. They can appear in searches with keywords such as MVD or DMV. The best protection for our customers is to always use ServiceArizona.com.”

Customers can use ServiceArizona.com to conduct well over half of motor vehicle transactions, such as applying for a duplicate driver license or driver license reinstatement, renewing a vehicle registration and purchasing a specialty or personalized license plate.

Currently, a person cannot obtain a driver license online. To do so a customer must visit a local MVD or Authorized Third Party office.

Additionally, ADOT does not offer MVD services through phone solicitations, nor does it endorse or advertise for online businesses claiming to provide MVD services.

There are legitimate Authorized Third Party businesses that are licensed and authorized to perform MVD transactions in person. A list of Authorized Third Party businesses can be found at azdot.gov/mvd.

For online service options: servicearizona.com

PHOENIX – Trucking companies should be on alert for an individual impersonating an Arizona Department of Transportation Enforcement and Compliance Division officer.

Earlier this month, a man identifying himself as an officer with ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division contacted a Mesa-based trucking company saying one of its trucks was damaged in a crash and that the company needed to send payment for a mechanic called out to make repairs.

Inconsistencies in the suspect’s story led the company’s operations manager to suspect a scam.

Trucking companies should be aware of the following if contacted by someone identifying himself or herself as an ADOT Enforcement and Compliance Division officer:

• While ADOT officers assist state troopers and local police agencies with commercial vehicle safety inspections, they don’t investigate crashes or typical traffic incidents.
• ADOT officers will assist drivers who have been involved in crashes or have mechanical problems but will never unilaterally call mechanics and hold trucks until payment is made.
• ADOT officers may call for heavy-duty tow trucks, but this would be discussed beforehand with the trucking company.
• An ADOT officer will give a trucking company his or her name, badge number, location and contact information. The officer will also provide the truck number and driver’s name. Typically, the officer will have the driver speak with his or her company.

If a trucking company has suspicions, the owner or manager can call the ADOT Enforcement and Compliance Division dispatch center at 602.712.8396.

PHOENIX — Most of us will probably need some type of driver license, identification card or vehicle registration services at one time or another. Today many of those services can be performed online. Unfortunately, Internet resources are being used by scam artists misrepresenting themselves as official motor vehicle division entities with the primary goal of taking a customer’s money and obtaining their personal identification.

The Motor Vehicle Division of the Arizona Department of Transportation is alerting customers that there are various websites conducting numerous fraudulent schemes by falsely advertising motor vehicle services for Arizona driver licenses, IDs, vehicle titles or registrations. The fraudulent websites appear in a search with keywords such as MVD or DMV.

The website scams illegally obtain credit card numbers and charge credit card accounts for unauthorized, bogus services and for services that will not be conducted. The captured credit card information may also be used for future fraudulent purchases and charges.

Additionally, consumers should be wary of phone solicitations. ADOT MVD does not conduct phone solicitations for driver license or title/registration services. Customers should protect their personal information when receiving phone calls from an entity fraudulently representing itself as MVD, ADOT or DMV to sell any type of service or product.

In fact, ADOT MVD does not perform any commercial advertising for the services it provides and does not collect personal information from its customers for the purpose of solicitation. ADOT’s goal is to prevent its customers from becoming victims of fraud and identity theft.

There are numerous legitimate businesses that offer motor vehicle support services such as practice tests or tips for completing the driver license application process. ADOT MVD has authorized third-party offices which are private businesses licensed and authorized to perform MVD transactions.

In Arizona, ServiceArizona.com is the only valid, authorized website for all MVD transactions. MVD customers can use ServiceArizona.com to research information or conduct transactions such as apply for a duplicate driver license and driver license reinstatement, perform registration renewals, purchase specialty/personalized license plates, update personal contact information, obtain a copy of a driver license or vehicle record, obtain a vehicle fee recap, register to vote, or check a vehicle identification number (VIN) for liens or other record alerts before purchasing a used car.

Arizona does not allow the issuance or renewal of a driver license via the Internet. An applicant must visit a local MVD or authorized third-party office.

The following are the only authorized ways to conduct Arizona driver license or vehicle title/registration transactions:

• In person at any ADOT MVD office
• Online through servicearizona.com
• In person at an authorized third-party office
• By standard mail to ADOT MVD

For further information about ADOT MVD services, please visit: azdot.gov/mvd.

PHOENIX —Today’s technology has provided many benefits for people to improve their personal lives and work place productivity. Unfortunately, those same advances in technology have also created opportunities for scam artists to create several fraud schemes with references to Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division services.

The illegal schemes seek to obtain personal information from individuals to be used for identity theft, or to obtain credit card and other financial account information in order to drain the funds of a consumer. The scam artists use references such as DMV or MVD as part of their fraudulent message to mislead potential victims and gain their trust.

ADOT and MVD will not send its customers any materials to promote any commercial business product or service. Please note there are Authorized Third Parties that are private businesses that have contracts and are licensed by ADOT to perform specific driver license, title and registration services. The ATPs are allowed to promote their business with advertisements and solicitations limited in accordance with state law. There are forms of legitimate advertising that may incorporate terminology common to motor vehicle transactions.

The personal information that is obtained by MVD from its customers in the normal course of conducting state-mandated services is not sold to any private entities for commercially based solicitations, surveys or product advertisements.

Consumers can protect themselves from fraud by remembering these tips:

• If you are contacted by phone, email or direct mail with any type of commercial solicitation or inquiry using terminology such as MVD or DMV, you are not being contacted by ADOT.
• Protect your personal information and don’t become a victim. Be aware of the various scams and fraud schemes happening every day.
• Make sure your current and correct address is on file with MVD in order to receive important documents or other notices. Insuring MVD has the correct address on file minimizes the possibility of personal information being delivered to the wrong address.
• ADOT MVD only has one website for driver license or motor vehicle services: www.servicearizona.com.
• Motor vehicle and driver license information may also be obtained at any local area MVD office.