RI DMV warns of online scam

PAWTUCKET, R.I.—The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles is warning drivers about an online scam.

A fraudulent Web site, riregistrationrenewals.com, is asking motorists to register their vehicles using a credit card.

“It is a fraudulent Web site, so we don’t want people to go there. We don’t want people to make their transactions there and the risks that are associated with that,“ said Sally Strachan, and administrator at the Rhode Island DMV.

The registry’s official Web site is http://www.dmv.state.ri.us

Strachan said there are some signs that it’s not the DMV’s Web site.

The site is missing Rhode Island’s state seal. It also asks for your social security number and $25.

“It’s very slick. It’s red, white and blue. It would be easy for somebody not knowing thinking that it would be a legitimate Web site,“ Strachan said.

Strachan said the state through its online vendor is trying to stop the site from appearing on various search engines.