Smishing, or scam texting, is on the rise, with Americans experiencing a significant increase in spam texts, especially about unpaid tolls. Reports indicate 19.2 billion spam texts were sent in February alone, marking a sharp surge from previous months. Scammers are evolving their tactics, impersonating more and varied entities to target consumers. Events like New York City's new congestion pricing have prompted a spike in related scams, affecting drivers nationwide. This trend highlights how scammers exploit moments of consumer confusion to perpetrate fraud.
"Got a text about unpaid tolls? It's probably a scam," the Federal Trade Commission said in a January consumer alert, warning of a widening ploy.
Scammers adapt their tactics to take advantage of events and profit from moments of confusion," says Teresa Murray, director of the consumer watchdog program at U.S. PIRG.
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