If you’ve been getting texts about unpaid tolls in Massachusetts over the last couple of weeks, you are far from alone. USA Today is reporting that thousands of Americans are getting texts like the one I got (screenshot at the bottom of this page) saying that your fees are due and that your driver’s license can be revoked.
Turns out there’s a new name for texts like these: “smishing”. It’s the text message version of “phishing”, those spam emails your IT department at work keeps telling you not to click on, and if you get one of these smishing texts, the FBI wants to know about it.
According to USA Today, if you receive a smishing text, you should do the following steps:
- Report the text to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Have the phone number or email the text originated from handy.
- Don’t click any links in the text, and don’t copy/paste any links into your browser
- Delete the text and report it as junk
- If you did click the link or provide any information, the FBI recommends to take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts, and to dispute any unfamiliar charges.
Screenshot: Ian/KBVB-FM
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