FBI issues urgent warning to 150M iPhone users: Delete this text as soon as you get it
The FBI is warning millions of Americans to be wary of an innocuous-seeming text message that's making the rounds — and to delete it immediately if they get it.
(Surprise! It's a scam.)
Americans have been bombarded with text scams for some time now, but according to Forbes, attacks on iPhone and Android users surged more than 700% this month alone. And the latest one's a doozy, the feds say.
Advertisement
3 One particular text scam has caught the attention of the FBI.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Here's how the scammers trap unsuspecting iPhone users in their web — by posing as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of different states.
The messages look like they could be legit, telling people that if they don't pay an unpaid toll or fine, they might be subjected to having their driving privileges revoked or possible jail time.
Advertisement
The text includes a link and instructs people to reply to the message then open the link.
But officials warn that all of this is just someone trying to steal your personal data — and urged users not to click the link and rather immediately delete the text.
These kinds of texts can 'put malware on your phone, which then can go in and steal information from your device, or collect your payment information,' FBI Tennessee's Supervisory Special Agent David Palmer said in a statement.
3 The text includes a link and instructs people to reply to the message then open the link.
via NYS DMV
Advertisement
Palmer also noted that in general, if you get a link from an unknown number, you should exercise caution and not click on it.
'These scam texts lead to phishing websites designed to steal people's credit card information and make unauthorized charges,' a rep for Guardio, a tool that offers protection against malware, identity theft, and phishing on your browser, told Forbes.
New York State DMV Commissioner Mark J. F. Schroeder added, 'These scammers flood phones with texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting people into handing over their personal information. DMV will never send texts asking for sensitive details.'
3 People across the country are getting scam text messages from people posing as the DMV.
Getty Images
Advertisement
Those who received one of these texts are being urged to file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
States reportedly affected by these text scams include include Tennessee, New York, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, and Washington DC.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon pushed out of NYC City Hall post
NEW YORK — Former Interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon was pushed out of his post as an assistant deputy mayor last month, the Daily News has learned. Donlon, who served as the NYPD's top cop for just over two months in 2024, was moved in November into a City Hall role with a steep pay cut in the office of the deputy mayor for public safety after stepping down as interim commissioner. He worked in that job under Deputy Mayor Chauncey Parker and later under Parker's successor, Kaz Daughtry. Parker resigned Feb. 17 along with three other deputy mayors concerned about allegations that Mayor Adams agreed to a quid pro quo with the Trump administration to get tough on illegal immigration in exchange for getting his federal corruption charges dropped. Sources familiar with the sequence said a woman in human resources for the mayor's office abruptly called Donlon on April 24 and told him he was out as of May 9. Donlon, the sources said, asked if he could have that in writing. The unnamed official said he didn't need it. City records show that though Donlon was working in a City Hall post, he was actually 'on loan' from the NYPD as an 'intelligence research manager,' pulling a $240,000 salary. That marked a decrease from the $277,605 salary he collected as interim police commissioner, records confirm. A rep for Donlon declined to comment. Asked about Donlon's termination, Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said Monday, 'While we don't comment on personnel matters, we are grateful to Tom Donlon's service to New Yorkers.' The NYPD referred a request for comment to the mayor's office. Adams appointed Donlon, a career FBI counterterror expert who investigated the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, as interim police commissioner on Sept. 13 after his predecessor, Edward Caban, resigned suddenly amid a federal probe scrutinizing potential corruption in the NYPD. Donlon's first public appearance as interim commissioner came Sept. 15 when he gave brief remarks after a police officer was shot and wounded in Brownsville, Brooklyn. 'It's unfortunate that I'm here, meeting many of you under these circumstances, but in my 30 years of law enforcement, I've learned that policing is a very, very difficult job,' Donlon told reporters at the time. Donlon's home was raided later that month by FBI agents looking for old documents Donlon may have retained after leaving the FBI. In October, Donlon touted that month's crime stats, crediting the rank and file for their 'laserlike focus' on driving down crime. On Nov. 3, Donlon got into a public shouting match with then-NYPD chief of staff Tarik Sheppard at the New York City Marathon. The duo had to be separated by then-Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey who has since resigned over a sex-for-overtime scandal, The News reported. At the time, the reason for the argument was said to relate to a photo op with cops who were running the race, but other sources hinted at a deeper conflict between the men that may have included a power struggle at the top of the NYPD. 'The matter was promptly discussed and resolved,' NYPD Assistant Commissioner Carlos Nieves said at the time. 'The leaders of the NYPD are passionate about their work, and it is that commitment and drive that helps us keep New Yorkers safe every day.' Adams likened the spat to family members fighting. 'Just because you have an argument with your spouse, your child, your business partner, doesn't mean you don't love them,' he said at the time. On Nov. 20, Adams named Jessica Tisch police commissioner and Donlon was moved to the City Hall role, which was described by the mayor as acting as a liaison with federal and state authorities. Adams thanked Donlon upon his exit as commissioner for 'his willingness to quickly come onboard and dedicate day and night to this city.' At City Hall, Donlon moved into a slot previously held by Tim Pearson, a former NYPD inspector and friend to the mayor who also resigned last year in the wake of a corruption scandal and a series of lawsuits accusing him of retaliating against cops who accused him of sexually harassing a subordinate. Donlon's actual duties at City Hill largely involved grant writing, sources said. He also didn't receive any training for the new post, the sources said. His ouster came about seven weeks after Daughtry, a former detective and deputy NYPD commissioner of operations favored by Adams, was appointed to succeed Parker on March 7. The sources said Donlon was told by a City Hall official his firing was 'not for cause,' meaning he didn't do anything wrong to trigger it. He was told the position was being eliminated, the sources said. Sheppard, meanwhile, filed for retirement on April 11. _____
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
'Stuff of nightmares': How prosecutors say attacks on Minn. lawmakers unfolded
'Stuff of nightmares': How prosecutors say attacks on Minn. lawmakers unfolded Show Caption Hide Caption Authorities arrest suspected Minnesota lawmakers shooter Police caught Vance Luther Boelter, the man accused of killing Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and wounding a state senator and his wife. Federal court documents released Monday shed light on how prosecutors say a 57-year-old man researched and carried out what they are calling a "political assassination" that left a Minnesota state lawmaker dead and put the entire state on edge. Vance Boelter was arrested late Sunday following the largest manhunt in Minnesota state history. Federal prosecutors charged him with several counts of murder and stalking in the killings of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Boelter also faces charges in the shooting of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who were injured but are expected to recover. Investigators say Boelter "extensively researched" and planned the June 14 attack. He compiled a list of mostly Democratic state lawmakers and their addresses; fitted his SUV with lights and a fake license plate to resemble a police squad car; and he purchased a hyper-realistic silicone mask and a cache of weapons, according to a 20-page affidavit filed in federal court. Boelter 'embarked on a planned campaign of stalking and violence, designed to inflict fear, injure and kill members of the Minnesota state legislature and their families," FBI agents wrote in the affidavit. "It is not an exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,'' said Joseph Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota. Here's a timeline of the shootings and the search to find Boelter, according to the federal affidavit: Shooting at the Hoffman home: 'This is the police' Around 2 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, June 14, Boelter drove to the house of Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman in Champlin, about 20 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Video footage from the home shows Hoffman at the front door wearing a black tactical vest and a flesh-colored mask. He repeatedly knocked on the door and shouted "This is the police. Open the door," court records say. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, both came to the door and Boelter told them he was there in response to a shooting. After a short exchange, the Hoffmans got a better look at Boelter and realized he was wearing a mask. One or both of them said he wasn't a real police officer. Boelter in response said "This is a robbery," according to the FBI. John Hoffman tried to push Boelter back through the front door, but Boelter shot him repeatedly before turning his gun on Yvette Hoffman, court documents say. At approximately 2:06 a.m., the Hoffman's adult daughter called 911 and reported that her parents had been shot by a masked gunman. Boelter appears at 2nd lawmaker's home At approximately 2:24 a.m., Boelter – still wearing the tactical gear and the mask – arrived at the front door of a state legislator in Maple Grove, about 10 miles from Champlin. He rang the door bell multiple times and said "This is the police. Open the door. This is the police. We have a warrant," court documents say. The legislator, who has not been named in court records, was not home. Boelter left. Cop tries to speak to Boelter outside 3rd official's home Law enforcement in New Hope, Minnesota, learned of the shooting at the Hoffman home and dispatched an officer to the home of an unnamed elected official who lived in the area, the affidavit says. At approximately 2:36 a.m., the officer encountered a man now believed to be Boelter in his SUV parked down the street from the state official's home. Believing the SUV belonged to a law enforcement officer with its lights and fake license plate, the officer pulled up beside the vehicle and tried to speak with the man. The man "continued staring down and did not respond," the affidavit says. The officer drove to the lawmaker's home, saw there were "no signs of distress" and waited for other law enforcement to arrive, according to the affidavit. By the time they did, Boelter was gone. Suspect fatally shoots Melissa Hortman, husband, affidavit says Around 3:30 a.m., law enforcement in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, went to the home of Rep. Melissa Hortman to conduct a safety check. Outside the home, officers saw the black SUV with its lights flashing. Then they saw the suspect – wearing the mask and tactical gear – facing the front door. Moments later, the suspect fired several gunshots and moved into the house, where a second round of gunshots could be heard, records say. Inside, officers discovered the Hortmans with gunshot wounds and their dog gravely injured. Melissa and Mark Hortman were later pronounced dead. Boelter fled the home and escaped into a wooded area. Investigators found a 9mm handgun and the mask outside the home. In the SUV, investigators recovered five firearms and several notebooks filled with handwritten notes. The writings included the names of more than 45 Minnesota state and federal public officials, including Hortman. After shootings, suspect texts family: 'Dad went to war last night' In a federal complaint, the FBI says Boelter sent multiple texts to his wife and his family a few hours after the shootings. In a group chat that included his wife and children, he sent the following message at 6:18 a.m.: 'Dad went to war last night … I dont wanna say more because I dont wanna implicate anybody.' Around the same time, his wife received a separate message from Boelter. 'Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation … there's gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don't want you guys around.' Boelter on the run: Buys e-bike, Buick and pens letter to the FBI At 7 a.m., a man said he met Boelter for the first time at a bus stop in northern Minneapolis. Boelter, carrying two duffel bags, asked whether he could purchase an e-bike from the man. The man agreed and the pair boarded a bus heading for the man's home, court documents say. Boelter was next seen at a bank in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, where he withdrew $2,200, emptying his account. Cameras at the bank captured him wearing a cowboy hat. He bought an e-bike and a Buick from the man he met earlier at the bus stop. On Sunday, June 15, police received a tip that a man was riding an e-bike in the area of Boelter's family home in Green Isle, Minnesota. Soon police located the Buick Boelter had purchased near the reported e-bike sighting. Inside the car, police found the cowboy hat and a letter addressed to the FBI, which said the writer, "Dr. Vance Luther Boelter," had carried out the shootings the day before. At 9:10 p.m., Boelter crawled out of a wooded area and peacefully surrendered to law enforcement. He was taken into custody about a mile from his family home.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Australian Says He Was 'Deported' From US Because of His Writings
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An Australian writer and former Columbia University student says he was detained for 12 hours by U.S. border officials, denied entry into the country and sent back to Australia due to his writings on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Newsweek reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Why It Matters The Trump administration's pledge to carry out the largest mass deportation in United States history has extended to broader actions such as monitoring the social media of immigrants, in addition to arresting international students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that visas would be restricted for foreign officials who engage in censorship of Americans. What To Know Alistair Kitchen's ordeal began when he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport last week from Melbourne, with New York as his ultimate destination. "I was denied entry, detained, and deported from the USA at the end of last week because of my reporting on the Columbia student protests," Kitchen wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on June 15. Newsweek reached out to Kitchen via email and social media for comment. Kitchen, 33, said his name was called over an intercom at the airport, leading to lengthy questioning about his writings on pro-Palestine student protests at Columbia University, which were published on his personal blog, Kitchen Counter, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. In recent posts on X and Instagram, Kitchen said that U.S. agents "were waiting for me" when he got off the plane. "They knew (or it felt like they knew) everything about me," Kitchen wrote. "I had scrubbed my online presence expecting ad hoc digital sweeps; I was not prepared for their sophistication, for them having prepared a file on me." In another post, Kitchen said that officials told him the following: "We both know why you've been because of what you wrote about the protests at Columbia." That remark was reportedly followed by 30 to 45 minutes of questioning on Kitchen's views regarding Israel, Palestine, Hamas, and his relationships with Jewish and Muslim friends, as well as how he would resolve the Middle East conflict. Kitchen said that U.S. border agents demanded the passcode to his phone and accessed its content, adding that he received his phone once he arrived back in Melbourne. He said that he complied with agents out of stress and fatigue, a decision he later regretted. "I chose to be compliant, and that was an immense mistake," Kitchen told The Sydney Morning Herald. "I urge all Australians to accept immediate deportation instead of complying with the request to hand over your is far worse, and if they are asking for your phone, there is no likelihood they will ever let you in." Deleting social media and other personal information 48 hours before a flight to the U.S. "is already too late," he added. File photo of a protester's wrists zip-tied after being arrested in Los Angeles on June 14, 2025. File photo of a protester's wrists zip-tied after being arrested in Los Angeles on June 14, 2025. LAUREN PUENTE/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Agents reportedly informed him that they found evidence of prior drug use. Kitchen admitted to legally purchasing marijuana in New York state and consuming illicit drugs in other countries. "I should never have admitted those things to him," he said. "I should have taken yet another opportunity to accept immediate deportation." The entire experience was described by Kitchen as "one of the harder experiences of my life," saying the 15-hour flight was followed by a 12-hour detention and then another 15-hour flight back to Australia. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated its travel advice for Australians, warning that entry requirements to the United States are strict and that border officials have broad powers to determine admissibility. Travelers are cautioned that devices and online activity may be subject to inspection. Newsweek reached out to DFAT and the Australian Embassy in the U.S. for comment. What People Are Saying Lesley Kitchen, mother of Alistair Kitchen, told The Sydney Morning Herald: "My immediate reaction was: What's happened? I was trying to be calm when I was talking to them. I said, 'Well, this is pretty shocking.' They were able to say, 'Yes, we're getting quite a few of these now.' "In Australia, we have a certain expectation of freedom of speech and someone reporting or actually observing and writing about a student protest wouldn't be considered to be a threat, in my expectation, as an Aussie." What Happens Next Kitchen said he will further discuss what happened to him on his blog, where all of the posts remain up and available to read. "I observed the Columbia protests in the capacity of a journalist, but I am not backed by any news org," he said on X. "I published the work on a blog I thought no one reads. Apparently the US Government does."
