(AmericanProsperity.com) – Revealing yet another attempt by criminals to steal personal information through deceptive technology, the FBI has raised the alarm over a dangerous surge in “smishing” scams plaguing American citizens.
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These fraudsters are operating a massive scheme that has already generated over 2,000 complaints to federal authorities.
Since March 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has been flooded with reports about fraudulent text messages claiming recipients owe money for unpaid tolls.
This large-scale operation involves over 10,000 newly registered domains specifically created to trick Americans into surrendering their financial information.
The FBI stated, “The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and contain almost identical language.”
“However, the link provided within the text is created to impersonate the state’s toll service name, and phone numbers appear to change between states,” the agency added.
These scam messages use urgent, threatening language to immediately pressure recipients into paying supposed debts.
They typically warn of late fees and legal consequences if payment is not made promptly.
The scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in their approaches. IPhone users have developed methods to bypass Apple’s security measures by inviting users to reply with “Y” to reopen the text.
The scheme targets at least 10 U.S. states and even extends into Canada, showing how widespread and organized this criminal enterprise has become.
While government agencies like the FBI issue warnings, they seem powerless to actually stop these scammers from operating. Americans are left largely on their own to protect themselves from these digital predators.
Moreover, the Federal Trade Commission recommends not clicking on links or responding to unexpected texts, but these passive measures burden citizens rather than bring criminals to justice.
This type of fraud, known as “smishing,” combines SMS messaging with phishing techniques to steal sensitive information.
Victims who click on these fraudulent links risk exposing their personal data, credit card information, and potentially their entire digital identity to criminal networks that operate with virtual impunity across international borders.
In addition, the fraud extends beyond toll collections to include package delivery notifications and government agency impersonations.
To protect yourself, verify any supposed toll charges through official websites by typing the URL directly into any browser rather than clicking links.
Report suspicious texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM) and file complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
It is also crucial to remember that legitimate toll authorities typically send official notices through mail, not text messages demanding immediate payment.
As digital fraud continues to rise, Americans must remain vigilant against these increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Until law enforcement develops more effective tools to combat these criminals, personal awareness and skepticism remain the strongest defenses against those who would exploit honest citizens through technology.
Pharming? Vishing? Smishing?
Do you have any clue what these terms mean? Don't be confused when you see these things in a scam warning. Use the FBI's resources at https://t.co/VAahGtVj7Y to understand the scams and reduce your risk of being a target. pic.twitter.com/bZ77GoGDnh
— FBI Pittsburgh (@FBIPittsburgh) February 19, 2025
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