- The US text messages scam. Affirm that unpaid toll rates are owed
- Messages include a malicious link to steal payment information
- FBI warns users who eliminate and report messages from unknown senders
The FBI warned about a new phishing scam that sweeps smartphones in the United States. The scam is aimed at drivers with convincing fistent texts that claim to be from the Motorized Vehicle Department (DMV). It is part of a growing trend of SMS toll scams designed to deceive the recipients to click malicious links and deliver the information of their credit card.
As reported by the local TV station of Memphis, Wreg and then collected by Men’s Journal, the FBI has issued a warning to anyone who receives a suspicious SMS. The office has urged smartphone users not to click on unknown sources links and to eliminate these text messages immediately.
In statements to Wreg, the special FBI supervision agent David Palmer described the scam as a “imitator” of the generalized toll scams that arose earlier this year. These attacks also used false unpaid toll warnings to attract victims to deliver sensitive personal details.
What makes these toll scams so dangerous is the ease with which they can be distributed, as well as what they can gather. “Calsa almost nothing to them … Send these messages and called,” Palmer told Wreg. “In return, they can … enter and steal information from your device or collect your payment information.”
How the scam works and how to detect it
How to detect a false text
While some fraud text messages are surprisingly polished, there are several common signs to take into account:
• Generic greetings No personal data
• Urgent or threatening language As “your account will be suspended”
• Unusual email links or email addressesOften ending strange domains or unrelated names
• Obvious errors including typographic errors or format errors
• Unknown sendersas random numbers or clearly false email handles
Most toll scam texts follow a similar format. The message generally states that he has pending toll charges and urges him to follow a link to solve the balance. The link generally leads to a false payment site designed to steal your information. This will be a convincing replica of a real government website, using similar sources, colors and logos, all of which seem to be official.
Most messages include the threat of late rates or legal actions if it does not act quickly. This intends to create a sense of urgency and panic, which causes an emotional response that can cause the recipient to ignore the inconsistencies and act without verifying if the message is legitimate.
According to the reports, Palmer received one of the false texts, and quickly saw several red flags. “A couple of things that I noticed immediately … the text message I received said it was from the North Tennessee Motorized Vehicle Department,” he said. “Obviously, there is no North or South Tennessee.”
The inconsistencies like these are a clear distinctive seal of a message that is trying to deceive it. So are the details of the sender that do not add. Agent Palmer gave an example: “The message I received was from the email address @catlover.com, obviously that is not a government address.”
Other signs to consider include spelling and grammatical errors, as well as generic greetings that do not refer to their name or plate. If you are not sure, do not get involved with the message. Instead, communicate directly with the relevant agency to clarify. Or as Palmer said: “If you don’t know who it is, don’t click on the link.”
Suspicious messages should be removed immediately. You can also inform the FTC and the FBI Internet Crimes Complaints Center.
