Authorities say if it pops up on your phone, the best thing to do is delete it right away.
Text scams aren’t new, but there’s been a shocking surge in a specific kind of scam recently.
According to Forbes, this type of message has increased by more than 700 percent just in the past month.
Fake texts about unpaid tolls have been around for quite a while, but now these scams have taken a more convincing turn.
Scammers are now pretending to be representatives from state DMV offices, making their messages seem a lot more official.
What’s the point of the texts?
These fake messages are designed to scare people. They often say that your driver’s license might be suspended or that you could face jail time if you don’t pay a supposed fine.
However, law enforcement says these threats are completely fake. The goal is to trick you into giving up your personal information so scammers can use it for fraud.
What have officials said?
David Palmer, a Supervisory Special Agent with FBI Tennessee, recently spoke about how dangerous these scam texts really are. He explained that they can install malware onto your phone. This harmful software can then steal your data or access your payment information without you even knowing.
Palmer also reminded the public that if you ever get a text from someone you don’t recognize that includes a link, the safest thing to do is not click it at all.
Because of the risks involved, people are being strongly encouraged to delete these messages immediately, whether you use an iPhone or Android device.
They’ve reported a staggering increase, specifically a 773 percent spike in these messages during just the first week of June.
“These scam texts lead to phishing websites designed to steal people’s credit card information and make unauthorized charges.” Guardio said, according to Forbes.
“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.” he noted.
The scam messages have already been reported in several states, including Tennessee, New York, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, and even Washington DC.
What to do if you get a message
If one of these suspicious texts shows up on your phone, don’t interact with it. Do not click any links, and don’t reply. Simply delete the message right away. If you think you may have entered personal information, take immediate steps to protect your accounts and secure your data.
Authorities also advise that you report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. You can file a report by visiting IC3.gov and following the instructions there.