Police warn about new DMV text message scam: What is brushing scam? What you need to know
Officials are warning drivers and cellphone users about new text message scams claiming to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles — threatening 'final notice' to target victims — and other brushing, spoofing and smishing scams to look out for.
The latest DMV text scam threatens to suspend vehicle registration and driving privileges if fines aren't paid immediately by clicking on the fake link. It has been reported across several states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, New York and more.
The DMV scam is the latest amid a slew of smishing text activity in the past year aimed at getting unsuspecting victims to click on malicious links to pay outstanding fines, reply "Y" to the messages, copy the links into your browser or confirm personal information, among other methods.
"The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) has received multiple reports of a recent phishing scam impersonating the DMV for Enforcement Penalties," the NJMVC said on social media on May 29. "These messages are designed to steal your personal and financial information."
'Phishing scams are designed to create a sense of panic, catching the receiver off guard and causing them to react before thinking,' warned DMV Director Amy Anthony. 'I urge everyone to think before you click on links of any kind especially those requesting money, payment, personal information, credit card details, social security number, or anything else that could be used negatively.'
Here's what you need to know to avoid getting ripped off.
If you receive a text message from a DMV or other state agency, demanding money, the Federal Trade Commission suggests the following:
Report the text to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and/or file a compliant with the FBI's Internet Crime Compliant Center at ic3.gov.
Do not respond to the text or click any links. State DMVs would not ask for your information or money by text.
If you think the message might be real, contact your state's DMV using a trusted phone number or website.
Copy the text message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This will help your wireless provider spot and block similar messages.
Report the text on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
According to the FBI, the definition of smishing is a social engineering attack using fake text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information or sending money to cybercriminals. "Smishing" combines "SMS"—or "short message service," and "phishing." "Phishing" generally pertains to attacks on the internet, email, or websites.
Spoofing is when someone disguises an email address, sender name, phone number, or website URL — often just by just changing one letter, or a symbol, or a number — to convince you that you are interacting with a trusted source, but makes it seem otherwise familiar to the recipient.
Brushing scams are a type of online fraud where sellers send unsolicited packages to individuals, although they never actually placed the order, such as through Amazon or AliExpress. Once the item is delivered, the fraudster will write a fake positive review about the product to help the seller's ratings rise, according to Mcafee. This scam also indicates that your personal information may have been compromised.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Police warn new DMV notice text message scams: What is brushing scam?
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