The FBI has issued a serious warning About a widespread scam spread across the country.
Americans are being targeted by a sophisticated series of SMS phishing – or “smishing” – attacks that lure them with fictitious unpaid road toll fees.
Toll Road Scam Lesson. (FBI)
increase in fraudulent activity
As victims have told federal authorities, the smishing scheme has been active since last month and is defrauding thousands of people.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has recorded a significant influx of more than 2,000 complaints from various states detailing deceptive texts impersonating road toll services.
Man texting on his phone. (Curt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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road toll scam mechanism
Investigation shows that these messages are uniform in their deception, falsely claiming that the recipient is delinquent in road toll payments. The purpose of these communications is to induce individuals to click on links that are ingeniously designed to mimic legitimate state toll service websites, including fluctuating phone numbers to avoid detection.
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The woman is sending messages on her phone. (Curt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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Regional responses to threat
The Pennsylvania Turnpike has been at the forefront of victim services, and is actively advising its customers to avoid interacting with these fraudulent messages. Similarly, Pennsylvania State Police have also expressed their concern, stating that scam texts redirect to fake websites designed to steal personal data.
Pennsylvania Toll Road Scam Text. (Curt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
extend the clock
It is not just regional services that are affected. Residents in various parts of the US are at risk since the beginning of these attacks, which target residents who use toll services. Although this detail is not directly mentioned in the FBI's public service announcement, it has been confirmed by secondary sources tracking the issue.
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Guidance if you receive a toll scam text message
The FBI has recommended several preventive measures in view of ongoing phishing attacks.
1. Report phishing attempts From the message to ic3.gov with the scammer's contact details and website URL.
2. Verify your toll account Through the official service website.
3. reach up to official customer service For toll service.
4. Delete the scam text message From your device.
5. Use good antivirus protection On all devices to reduce risks. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that can gain access to your private information is to install antivirus protection on all your devices. It can also alert you to a phishing email or ransomware scam. Get my picks for the Best 2024 Antivirus Security winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices,
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If you click on any of these toll scam links
For individuals who are engaged in these phishing attempts, it is important to take immediate action to secure personal and financial information. The FBI emphasizes the importance of monitoring unrecognized allegations and disputing them promptly to minimize any potential financial losses.
Kurt's highlights
As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is paramount to stay informed about these scams. By following the FBI's advice and maintaining a high level of suspicion toward unsolicited messages claiming to be from toll services, you can protect yourself from these aggressive phishing tactics. It is really important that we all work together to detect and expose scams. By doing this, we are coming together to protect people from cyber criminals who try to trick them.
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