The FBI has issued a new warning about a phishing scam targeting Americans using toll roads via SMS.
Called a “smishing” grift (a hacking scam carried out using fake SMS messages), the FBI said it has received over 2,000 complaints in three different states from people who claim they were contacted via text message and told that they had unpaid fees. .
The FBI estimates the scheme has been active since early March.
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“(State Tax Service Name): We noticed an unpaid fee amount of $12.51 on your record,” reads an example of the fake message. “To avoid a $50.00 late fee, visit https://myturnpiketollservices.com to adjust your balance.”
“Smishing,” which is a combination of the words “phishing” and “SMS,” involves using fake links to trick victims into “downloading malware, sharing sensitive information, or sending money to cybercriminals.”
The FBI said the messages are coming from numbers from all over the country, but did not specify the three states that have been affected so far.
However, the Pennsylvania State Police issued a warning to residents and visitors earlier this month, making it clear that it was one of the affected states.
“On Sunday afternoon, the PA Turnpike was advised of a major scam targeting Pennsylvania residents with text messages requesting personal financial information to pay off unpaid toll amounts,” the organization warned. “Similar scams have been reported by payment agencies across the country over the past few days.”
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Those who feel they have been affected by the scheme are encouraged to present one online complaint with IC3 and include the phone number the fake message came from as well as the link used in the message.
Victims should also delete any “unpleasant” texts they received and check their current charge balance by using their payment service's legitimate website or calling their customer service.