Nowadays, it feels like we spend every hour of our lives attempting to prevent identity theft or scams.
Everyone with a smartphone has received a warning from the Federal Trade Commission: do not click on any links if you receive a text about an unpaid toll.
These text messages appear quite real, and people are clicking on them whether or not you have just been through a toll road region.
To be completely honest, I was unsure whether or not to click on it when I received one the other day because my family had taken a trip over the Christmas break.
‘How in the world would the toll booth acquire my phone number?’ was the thought that halted me. My suspicions were heightened by the fact that we were driving a rental car rather than our own.
The FTC claims that this is how the scam operates:
You suddenly receive a text message informing you that you have unpaid tolls and must make the payment right away.
Although it is a phishing scam, the text may include a link that directs you to a page where you may enter your bank or credit card information, along with a dollar value for the amount you allegedly owe.
In addition to attempting to steal your money, the fraudster may also obtain your personal information, such as your driver’s license number, and possibly even take your identity if you click on the link.
Although the FTC has been aware of this for a few months, it has recently gained greater traction, and they had to issue an official memo in an attempt to alert the public to the danger.
