A surge of scam text messages impersonating toll road collection agencies is targeting smartphone users globally, attempting to steal financial information. These "smishing" scams often threaten fines or suspended driving privileges and have prompted warnings from officials across the United States and investigations reaching into Canada.
Cybersecurity experts report thousands of domains registered for these scams, which impersonate toll and package delivery services. The scams attempt to bypass security measures by prompting users to reply, and the FBI has received thousands of complaints.
To protect yourself, avoid clicking on links in suspicious texts, verify any toll balances on official websites, and report scams to the appropriate authorities. Remember, legitimate toll agencies typically do not request payment via text message.