How to spot fake FMCSA and Motus messages
New carriers get flooded with calls, texts and emails from companies pretending to be FMCSA. Here's what FMCSA itself says, so you can tell the real thing from a scam.
What FMCSA says it will and won't do
From FMCSA's fraud alerts page:
- It won't call you right after you apply. But your name, address and phone number become public as soon as you register, which is why private companies start calling within hours.
- It won't use telemarketers or robocalls, and won't ask for a credit card number or charge for its forms.
- It doesn't require private companies. You need a process agent (BOC-3) and insurance filings, but FMCSA "does not endorse and generally does not require the use of private businesses or vendors."
- It doesn't ask for your Social Security number or USDOT PIN by email.
Fake sites and emails FMCSA has named
- Fake Motus portals. The real site is motus.dot.gov. FMCSA has named fake "New MOTUS Portal" sites, including dot.motuswebresources.com, dot.motusdatasboard.com, dot.motusdatadesk.com, dot.motuswebdeck.com and dot.motusfunction.com. They arrive in emails titled "Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update."
- Fake safety audit emails. One asks you to "schedule" your audit through a link that collects your PIN, EIN and Social Security number. FMCSA says real audit messages typically come from an FMCSA mailbox or from the state agency assigned to your audit, usually ending in .gov.
- Fake SAFER messages asking you to "verify" payment or fuel details, from addresses that aren't FMCSA's.
Signs a message is a scam
- It isn't from a .gov address or doesn't link to a .gov site.
- It writes "MOTUS" in all capitals. FMCSA writes "Motus."
- It wants payment, your PIN, your Login.gov password, your EIN or your Social Security number.
- It threatens a deadline in hours or days, or says your number will be "deactivated" unless you pay.
- It calls you, especially right after you registered.
One timing trick to know: FMCSA has paused enforcement of the two-yearly registration update for updates due on or after June 1, 2026, while Motus settles in. Messages warning that you'll be shut down for a missed "off-cycle update" are using that confusion.
Where to get free help
- FMCSA's contact center: 1-800-832-5660. FMCSA has extended its hours to 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern on weekdays, plus Saturdays.
- Open a ticket: ask.fmcsa.dot.gov.
- Report a scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
How this site is different
This site is run by me, Scott Mandrell, and it isn't part of FMCSA. I'll never call or text you first, and I'll never ask for your PIN or Login.gov password. The deadline lookup is free and doesn't ask who you are. The one thing I sell, the audit file check, has its price, what's included and the refund terms posted up front. Who runs this.
Common questions
What's the real Motus website?
The real Motus site is https://motus.dot.gov/. FMCSA notes that Motus isn't an acronym and isn't written in all capitals, and it has named fake "New MOTUS Portal" sites on .com domains.
Does FMCSA charge to register or update my record?
FMCSA says it won't contact you through telemarketers or robocalls and won't ask for a credit card number. The two-yearly update in Motus is free, and any registration fee is paid only inside Motus. Private companies may charge to help, and FMCSA says it doesn't endorse or generally require them.
Someone says they can unlock my stuck Motus account for a fee. Is that real?
Only FMCSA can fix your Motus record, and it does that for free. Call FMCSA's contact center at 1-800-832-5660, or open a ticket at ask.fmcsa.dot.gov.