The FBI is alerting millions of Americans to be cautious about seemingly harmless text messages circulating and advises that they should be deleted promptly.
(Surprise! It’s a scam.)
For some time now, Americans have faced a wave of text scams. Reports indicate that attacks targeting both iPhone and Android users have surged over 700% just this month. The latest round has caught the federal government’s attention.
Scammers are using tactics to deceive unsuspecting iPhone users by posing as the DMV of various states. The messages often appear official, warning recipients that failing to pay certain fines could result in losing their driving privileges or worse.
These texts typically include a link and instruct the recipient to reply before clicking on it.
Officials emphasize that such messages are designed to steal personal data, urging recipients not to click on the links and to delete the messages immediately.
“These types of texts can lead to malware installation on your device, aimed at stealing information and payment details,” stated an FBI special supervisory agent in Tennessee.
It’s important to approach messages from unknown numbers with caution, as they can direct users to phishing sites that attempt to collect credit card information and impose fraudulent fees, according to an official from a company that protects against browser malware and phishing.
“Scammers are flooding phones with these texts to trick people into giving away personal information. The DMV will never request sensitive details via text,” added a DMV representative.
People who receive such messages are encouraged to report them to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
States affected by this text scam include Tennessee, New York, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
