IOS & Android Users Need To Delete These Scam Texts Immediately

The US government is sounding the alarm! If you have recently received a text claiming you have unpaid tolls, do not click anything. The government is warning that scammers are sending scam texts targeting both iOS and Android users with fake messages about unpaid tolls. So if you have received a message that sounds similar, chances are this is one of those scam texts the government is warning you about and that you should delete those messages ASAP!

How it works

This scam works by coming across sounding innocent enough. The scammers send texts pretending to be tolling agencies. They claim that you have unpaid tolls. They then threaten to impose fines or penalties if you don’t pay up. Some messages even claim your driving license could be suspended if you don’t pay.

According to the FCC, “You get a text out of the blue that says you have unpaid tolls and need to pay immediately. The scammy text might show a dollar amount for how much you supposedly owe and include a link that takes you to a page to enter your bank or credit card info — but it’s a phishing scam. Not only is the scammer trying to steal your money, but if you click the link, they could get your personal info (like your driver’s license number) — and even steal your identity.”

In some cases, the text can contain a link. It is imperative that you do not click on it! This is because these links could be part of a phishing campaign. It might lead users to a fake website designed to look like the tolling agency’s website. It might then prompt users to enter sensitive information.

This can include your full name, home address, social security numbers, phone numbers, or even your banking or payment details. Once scammers have that information, they can use it for identity fraud or siphon money from your bank accounts. The best solution is to just delete those messages.

Note that this isn’t a platform-specific scam. Both iOS and Android users can fall prey to these scam texts.

Protect yourself

If you have received one of these messages, or just suspicious messages in general, the easiest way to protect yourself is to just ignore it. A lot of these scam texts on iOS and Android rely on users to interact with them. This is by either replying to them or clicking on a link. Just ignoring it will render the vast majority of these scam texts useless.

However, if for whatever reason you think that these messages have a grain of truth to them, the next best thing is to check it yourself. For example, if a message claiming to be your bank is asking you to reset your password, don’t click on the link. Instead, go to your bank’s website or the app yourself. If there are any notifications or issues, you should see them.

These are just some of the ways you can go about protecting yourself. The FTC website actually has a pretty useful guide on how to recognize text spam. You can head on over to its website for the details.