That text you're seeing—is definitely a scam. Here's the real story behind “15C‑16.003” and why it's being used:
1. It's a phishing scam- SMS messages claiming to be from the DMV referencing “Florida Administrative Code 15C‑16.003” are fraudulent tactics used in a new wave of phishing scams. These texts threaten license suspension or enforcement penalties to scare you into clicking dubious payment links .
- Real DMV agencies won’t text unexpected legal notices like this. They typically notify through official mail or your government account portal.
2. What the real Florida code actually is- Fla. Admin. Code §15C‑16.003 does exist, but it has nothing to do with penalties, fines, or license suspensions. It deals with record retention for entities issuing electronic temporary registrations—they must keep records for 5 years, available for department inspections during normal business hours .
3. How to spot the scam- They cite a real-sounding code, but use it fraudulently—some even reference the same code in different states (California, Vermont) where it doesn’t exist.
- Warning signs include:
- Urgency ("final notice," "license suspension")
- Random strange characters in text
- Links that don’t end in .gov
[*]15C‑16.003 is a harmless Florida code about keeping temporary registration records for 5 years.
[*]Texts threatening license suspension using this code are fake and part of a phishing scam.
[*]Don't engage—delete and report the message—and verify directly through the official DMV if concerned.
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