Quick Answer
FMCSA is warning carriers about fake "New MOTUS Portal" emails with the subject line "Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update- Motus email." Its Fraud Alerts page, last updated October 15, 2026, lists five lookalike .com domains. The only real Motus site is motus.dot.gov. Anyone with a USDOT number, MC number or pending application can get these emails.
Key Takeaways
- The real Motus address is motus.dot.gov. FMCSA says the fake "New MOTUS Portal" runs on .com domains such as dot.motuswebresources.com and dot.motusfunction.com.
- Motus is a name, not an acronym. FMCSA points out that the scam spells it in all caps.
- FMCSA says it will never ask for payment, your SSN, EIN, PIN, UCR or bank details through an unsolicited message.
- FMCSA says routine updates and renewals are always started by you, through official FMCSA websites.
- You can report phishing to the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660, FMCSA's complaint system, the FTC and the FBI's IC3.
“The only real Motus website is motus.dot.gov. FMCSA says emails titled "Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update- Motus email" and any "New MOTUS Portal" on a .com domain are fake, and FMCSA never asks for your SSN, EIN, PIN or bank details in an unsolicited message.”
What is the fake Motus email?
Motus replaced FMCSA's old registration tools on May 19, 2026, and every carrier now signs in with Login.gov. Scammers are exploiting that switch.
FMCSA says "bad actors have started to impersonate" Motus. The emails urge you to click a "New MOTUS Portal" link and update your profile. FMCSA lists these fake portal addresses:
- dot.motuswebresources.com
- dot.motusdatasboard.com
- dot.motusdatadesk.com
- dot.motuswebdeck.com
- dot.motusfunction.com
FMCSA also lists Motus-themed sender addresses, including hannah(@)motuswebresources.com and addresses at motusinternal.com. New domains can appear anytime, so check FMCSA's page rather than this list.
For background on Motus and your authority paperwork, see our MC authority letter guide.
Which other FMCSA scams are going around in 2026?
FMCSA has also flagged these on its Fraud Alerts page and in a January 30, 2026 phishing alert:
Scam | What the message does | Detail FMCSA published |
|---|---|---|
Fake USDOT or FMCSA officials | Sends professional-looking documents to steal data or demand illegal payments | fmcsa.web.saferwebdattaconnect.pro |
SAFER impersonation | Asks you to verify a payment and fuel system linked to your MC/DOT number | safer.web.dotgov.info and others |
Incomplete carrier profile | Tells you to complete your carrier profile | fmcsa.dot.saferwebmonitoringcenter.info |
Bogus Notice of Carrier Status | Claims your profile is "not authorized" | Invites you to "check your carrier record" |
Fake audit request | Collects carrier data and personal information | thomson(@)audit-safer.com |
A related warning covers offers to buy or lease an existing authority. FMCSA's bulletin dated March 19, 2026 says it will start proceedings to inactivate the USDOT number and revoke all related registrations when a number is sold, bought or leased outside a legitimate corporate transaction. Leasing trucks or drivers under 49 CFR Part 376 is still allowed.
If your authority is new, our first 90 days guide covers the real filings and records FMCSA expects early on.
How do you check whether an email is really from FMCSA?
- Type motus.dot.gov into your browser yourself. Don't reach Motus through a link in an email.
- Hover over links before you click. Read the end of the address: dot.motusfunction.com starts with "dot" but ends in .com, so it isn't a government site.
- Check the sender, but don't stop there. FMCSA email almost always ends in .gov, yet FMCSA has flagged fakes made to look like they came from its own email server.
- Look for small branding errors, such as "MOTUS" in all caps or "fmSca" instead of FMCSA.
- Treat any request for your SSN, EIN, PIN, bank or card details, or a UCR payment as a scam. FMCSA says it never asks for these in unsolicited messages.
- Ignore deadline threats. FMCSA says warnings like "respond within a day or be fined" are not how its registration process works.
- When in doubt, call FMCSA at 1-800-832-5660 or use ask.fmcsa.dot.gov. Don't use a phone number from the email itself.
What should you do if you already clicked?
- Sign in at motus.dot.gov and check your company details and account users.
- If you typed your Login.gov password into a fake page, change it at login.gov.
- Call the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660 and report it.
- File a complaint at complaint.fmcsa.dot.gov or call 1-888-368-7238. FMCSA's eligible complaints page lists "Registration-Related Fraud and Identity Theft," which covers phishing aimed at getting into a registration account.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov. FMCSA also suggests your local police or state attorney general.
- Check your status on the SAFER Company Snapshot at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Need an FMCSA-registered ELD for your trucks? See Lucid ELD plans
Educational content, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against current FMCSA regulations and your state's rules.
FAQ
Is the "Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update" Motus email real?
No. FMCSA lists it as a scam that sends you to a fake "New MOTUS Portal." Real registration updates, including your MCS-150 biennial update, are filed free by you inside Motus.
What is the official Motus website?
FMCSA says the only legitimate address is https://motus.dot.gov/. A "motus" address ending in .com is not FMCSA.
Will FMCSA ever email me from a non-.gov address?
Rarely. FMCSA says customer satisfaction surveys after a Contact Center call may come from a non-.gov address, but they never ask for personal, payment or account information.
Where do I report an FMCSA phishing email?
Call the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660 or file a complaint at complaint.fmcsa.dot.gov. You can also report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
