Did you get a text about unpaid road tolls? It could be a 'smishing' scam, FBI says
The FBI has issued an alert warning of a new SMS scam targeting road tolls.
In an alert posted April 12, the FBI said it had received over 2,000 complaints reporting smishing texts representing road toll collection services in at least three states, claiming people owe money for unpaid tolls. According to the FBI, the scam may be moving from state to state.
An example of the scam text people may receive reads as follows: "(State Toll Service Name): We've noticed an outstanding toll amount of $12.51 on your record. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, visit https://myturnpiketollservices.com to settle your balance."
The texts contain almost identical language, but the link within the text is changed to impersonate the state's toll service name, the FBI says. Phone numbers also appear to change between states.
Smishing is a "a social engineering attack using fake text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information, or sending money to cybercriminals," according to the FBI.
The term comes from a combination of the words "SMS" and "phishing."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/04/18/road-toll-scam-text-fbi/73368016007/