Protect Yourself – FBI Warning on Smishing Texts and Phishing Scams

People in the U.S. who use smartphones should take note of the FBI Warning about fake text messages posing as toll road services, delivery companies, and government agencies. These fake texts are part of the newest trend of “smishing” scams, which are phishing attacks sent through SMS.

They are made to steal financial and personal data. To get people to give up their personal information, the scam uses more than 10,000 brand-new names that look like real websites. The plan is being made by cybercriminals. They send fake requests for payment that look like they came from the government. People who are late on their tolls are told by the demands that they need to pay them or get fined.

Someone who gets one of these texts should delete it right away because the FBI says it is fake. Since March 2024, more than 2,000 reports of fake toll payment texts have been sent to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3). The agency says that these texts often use almost similar language and links that look like they are from real toll service websites.

The calls come from different phone numbers in each state to make the scam seem more real to the people who receive them. Any scam letter follows a set pattern and asks for a small payment for missed tolls. It also has a payment link. This is how it might look: “(Name of State Toll Service): We saw that you owe $12.51 in tolls on your record.

People fall for these scams because they use fear and a sense of urgency to get people to act quickly so they don’t get fined. If someone texts you a link that asks for money, the FBI says to be careful and stay away from URLs that look sketchy.

Legitimate Toll Agencies Do Not Request Payments via Text

The government wants to make it clear that real toll companies do not ask for money through text messages. Michigan’s Department of Transportation (MDOT) confirmed that toll payment requests are never sent via SMS. The Mackinac Bridge Authority, the Sault Ste.

Marie International Bridge Administration, and the Blue Water Bridge all said that they do not text customers about toll violations. A legal toll warning can only be sent by mail. Social engineering is a method that scammers use to make their messages look like they are real.

They might use images that look official, web addresses that look like official ones, and language that sounds pressing to make people believe that they need to act right away. State agencies and toll authorities stress, though, that any contact about unpaid tolls or violations must always be done through official mail.

How to Protect Yourself from Smishing Scams

To avoid falling for smishing scams, the FBI and computer experts suggest taking the following steps:

• Do Not Click on Suspicious Links: Do not click on links in text messages that you did not ask for. If you receive a message about an unpaid toll, visit the official website of your state’s toll service by typing the address directly into your browser.
• Verify Directly with Toll Agencies: If you receive a toll-related text message, contact the toll service provider directly using official contact information found on their website.
• Enable Spam Filters: A lot of smartphone operating systems and providers let you set up spam filters to help you spot and block scam messages.
• Report Scam Messages: Send any strange texts to 7726 (SPAM) to have your cell phone company look into them. Another way to report it is to go to a website and use the FBI’s Internet Crime Report Centre (IC3).
• Check your bank accounts: If you enter your payment information after clicking on a fake link by accident, check your bank and credit card records for unauthorized activities and contact your bank right away if you find anything suspicious.

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Smishing Scams are Becoming More Dangerous

Cybercriminals are always changing their tricks to get around security measures, so smishing scams are getting smarter. Scammers try to get people to give them personal and financial information by taking advantage of the fact that people trust toll services and the government.

As more people fall for these scams, the FBI warning urges people to stay alert, make sure that payment requests come from official channels, and never give out personal information through unwanted text messages.

People should be aware that con artists often go after a large group of people in the hopes that at least some of them will fall for the scam. People can protect themselves from financial scams and identity theft by staying informed and being careful.