(WFSB) – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation warned drivers about a new scam that attempts to steal personal and financial information through fraudulent text messages.
MassDOT confirmed that it will never request payment via text, urging customers to ignore and report any suspicious messages.
The scam, known as “smishing,” involves scammers sending text messages or emails claiming to be from a tolling agency.
Channel 3 spoke with a man who said he recognized exactly what the link was.
“First, it said ‘+63′ in front [of the phone number], which is out of the country and I’m always cautious of those things,” said Harry Finer of Rocky Hill. “And then, because I don’t have tolls bills, I have E-ZPass, I knew this was fake.”
The message typically asserts that a driver has an unpaid toll of $6.99 and that immediate payment is required to avoid late fees.
The scammers include a link in the message, attempting to trick recipients into entering personal and financial details.
Experts said that the scammers specifically target individuals with phone numbers that appear to be linked to tolling authorities.
However, they do not have any specific information about the targets and rely on the links to gather sensitive data.
MassDOT said the scam first surfaced last June. This time around, it has been targeting Connecticut residents.
MassDOT emphasized that it would never send toll bills or any other payment information through text messages.
It strongly advised customers to avoid clicking on links sent from unknown numbers or email addresses.
For anyone who receives a suspicious message, MassDOT urged them to take the following steps:
For those who may have clicked on a fraudulent link, it is important to secure your personal information and dispute any unknown charges with the bank.
Anyone who suspects that they have fallen victim to the scam, they can report it to the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
MassDOT continued to warn the public to remain vigilant and protect their personal information from potential cyber threats.
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