(Patriot.buzz) – Chinese scammers have unleashed a new blight upon unsuspecting American drivers.
See the tweet below!
Fraudulent text messages purporting to be from legitimate toll agencies like E-ZPass and SunPass are popping up all across the country.
These texts claim recipients owe money for unpaid tolls, tricking them into visiting fake websites and divulging sensitive personal information.
Scammers pretend to be tolling agencies, sending texts that state you owe money for purported unpaid tolls.
These messages include a dollar amount and a link, prompting you to enter bank or credit card information.
By clicking the link, victims risk phishing their personal data, leading to theft and potential identity fraud.
The disturbing reality is that these scams originate from Chinese smishing networks.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has even issued warnings about these malicious texts.
This threat is magnified by the availability of commercial kits from China instructing obnoxious fraudsters on scam techniques.
“What we’re seeing with these toll scams is just a continuation of the Chinese smishing groups rotating from package redelivery schemes to toll road scams,” Ford Merrill, security researcher at SecAlliance, a CSIS Security Group company, told KrebsOnSecurity.
Reported incidents of these fraudulent texts are widespread, from Massachusetts and Florida to Texas and Washington.
These fake messages even reach non-vehicle owners, highlighting their random targeting nature.
Phishing pages mimicking toll operator sites are mobile-optimized, making them difficult to detect.
These scams exploit trust in everyday systems, posing an increasing threat.
Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson says this scam is becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.
As these smishing attacks gain ground, the need for heightened awareness becomes paramount.
Verifying with toll operators and installing antivirus software are crucial defensive measures.
One such kit, “Lighthouse,” makes it easy for scammers to spoof toll road operators in multiple states, reports KrebsOnSecurity, cited by The New York Post.
Beware of urgency in unexpected texts and never click on suspicious links. Avoid sharing personal information and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Report suspicious messages to authorities and use personal data removal services. Additional information on avoiding text scams is available at ftc.gov/textscams.
INDY CONSUMER ALERT: If you receive a text claiming you have unpaid tolls it’s most likely a scam.
The BBB says scammers are targeting our area due to our proximity to Chicago and Louisville.
DO NOT click the link it could leak your personal info. @wrtv pic.twitter.com/NDovqlfJsA
— Lauren Schwentker (@LaurenWRTV) January 30, 2025
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