Posted on 05/31/2025 9:06:43 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in multiple states are alerting drivers about a new wave of fraudulent text messages designed to trick recipients into revealing their personal and financial information.
As digital scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the latest round of phishing attempts is targeting unsuspecting drivers across the United States. DMVs in at least three states — New York, Florida, and California — have reported a surge in fake text messages that employ fear tactics to deceive recipients into divulging sensitive data.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
It’s a fake DMV test, but a “real” stupid test.
life is hard. It’s harder when you’re stupid.
I constantly get fake texts from EzPass, USPS. Lame attempts.
My wife and I are in our 70s. My career was in IT, so we have that. But even so, I know that the brain can deteriorate to the point where even we, if we get to that point, would be vulnerable.
I don’t know what can be done about this sort of thing, but I’m trying to come up with some sort of protection for us while we’re still in the “pre-Biden” stages...
The easiest solution is to take ownership of the concept of going to some person you know and trust and run it by them. But that’s not foolproof.
yeah. We were notified by EZPASS once, but it was real. And it wasn’t a text.
About 4 years ago they tried it with my sister. Said she missed jury duty and they were about to come arrest here. She was crying and called me. Said they wanted her to get gift cards for $2000.
I told her it was a scam and to forget it.
It’s crazy
There’s another slick scam going around — a letter from a “legal firm” stating that you may be heir to a client’s estate who has a surname similar to yours.
I get the same thing here in NC and they claim that you owe Toll Road Fees and that the State Highway police/DMV or whatever your State Cops go by.
I reply for them to GFThemselves and I am sending the REAL STATE POPO a copy of their scam Text and then I report it as spam/phishing to the Text ISP Police and then I delete it.
I will drive out of My way to avoid the DAMNED TOLL ROADS !!! I pay Road Taxes when I buy Fuel/Tags/Registration and Etc and refuse to pay any more taxes on it !!!
I’ve gotten several of those messages. This phish don’t bite.
When I ran an ecommerce business, I used to get letters from real lawyers saying I owe them money because I used a photo on my website that they owned. It was a real lawyer but somebody just used their name. And it always ended with some weird oath, like “ I swear under penalty of perjury that I am telling the truth”. Which was a dead giveaway.
I’ve gotten some 10 or so fake texts from an out of the country number telling me I’m at risk due to unpaid tolls and I better click here and call there to get this straightened out. Despite the fact I’ve not been on a toll road in over a year. And I paid the toll.
I figure if they pump out 10,000 fake phishing texts, someone will respond.
I get fake texts telling me the $1200 iPad I ordered is being sent. And call this number if there are any questions.
> They told her to go get 2 grand worth of gift cards from. Target. I forgot what the made up. <
For those not in the know, here are some scams of that type:
- You owe the IRS for back taxes. Pay now, or you will be arrested.
- You owe your power company money. Pay now, or your electricity will be shut off.
- Your grandson/granddaughter is in jail, and needs bail money.
And now the most intricate one of all:
You are told that you are due a refund from an unwanted purchase. That refund was transferred to your bank electronically. But an error has occurred, and you have received too much money.
Please send the excess back to us using either gift cards or a bitcoin machine.
Bottom line for seniors, and everyone else: Believe NO unsolicited phone calls or emails.
After my brother died, I started getting junk mail about how I could be eligible to get settlements out of the estate early.
It’s disgusting the greed they pander to.
And my siblings and I already knew exactly what the will stated and how the estate was to be disbursed because my brother told us all before hand. And we didn’t have any problem with it.
I tossed all that crap in the trash.
That truly is a disgusting scam. Preying off of people’s grief.
The first countermeasure on the list is to register with the National Do Not Call List. Hilarious!! I find this nearly as funny as it is useless ... a completely useless thing to do.
Me, too, and i got the one referred to also
Whenever gift cards are asked for or required you know right away it’s a scam. The IRS does not ask for gift cards from Target or Walmart, nor does any other government agency. Or any company.
“The easiest solution is to take ownership of the concept of going to some person you know and trust and run it by them. But that’s not foolproof.”
The problem is that the caller installs fear and urgency drivers into your brain. If anyone calls you and says “Don’t hang up”, hang up. If a window pops up unsolicited and says “Don’t close this window”, close that window. Be ungovernable.
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