Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning consumers of a recent smishing scam targeting toll road users.
The scam involves a deceptive text claiming the consumer owes money for unpaid tolls with a $50 late fee looming if the balance is not settled immediately. The message also includes a fake link deceptively made to look legitimate by using the name of a real toll company.
“Scammers craft these messages with links designed to steal consumers’ personal and financial information,” Nessel said. “It’s important for residents to recognize the signs of smishing texts so they aren’t duped out of their hard-earned money.”
Consumers may have received a smishing text if the text message:
• is unsolicited
• is sent from a long phone number (10 or more digits)
• includes a link that is likely shortened or scrambled
• is written with a sense of urgency
• contains grammatical and spelling errors
• promises a reward or prize if you respond or click a link
• requests personal or financial information, or links to a webpage that does
Consumers should not reply to suspicious texts or click on links or attachments. Instead, they should use built-in spam-blocking tools on their mobile devices. Consumers can report smishing texts by forwarding them to SPAM (7726) and by sending the texts to the Federal Trade Commission.
To file a complaint with the attorney general, or get additional information, contact:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form at: https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx.
The scam involves a deceptive text claiming the consumer owes money for unpaid tolls with a $50 late fee looming if the balance is not settled immediately. The message also includes a fake link deceptively made to look legitimate by using the name of a real toll company.
“Scammers craft these messages with links designed to steal consumers’ personal and financial information,” Nessel said. “It’s important for residents to recognize the signs of smishing texts so they aren’t duped out of their hard-earned money.”
Consumers may have received a smishing text if the text message:
• is unsolicited
• is sent from a long phone number (10 or more digits)
• includes a link that is likely shortened or scrambled
• is written with a sense of urgency
• contains grammatical and spelling errors
• promises a reward or prize if you respond or click a link
• requests personal or financial information, or links to a webpage that does
Consumers should not reply to suspicious texts or click on links or attachments. Instead, they should use built-in spam-blocking tools on their mobile devices. Consumers can report smishing texts by forwarding them to SPAM (7726) and by sending the texts to the Federal Trade Commission.
To file a complaint with the attorney general, or get additional information, contact:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form at: https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx.
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