Officials issue more warnings about scam texts demanding toll payments

State officials are raising alarms about a recent influx of scam texts that impersonate toll collection agencies, aiming to deceive recipients into providing sensitive financial information. These deceptive messages, referred to as "smishing," primarily request details such as credit card numbers or bank account information. Louisiana's Attorney General, Liz Murrill, highlighted the issue by sharing her experience with a scam text on Facebook, urging the public to remain cautious. Interestingly, even states without toll roads, like Vermont, are experiencing these scams, showing the broad reach of the issue. Cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks reported that more than 10,000 domains have been registered by scammers to facilitate these fraudulent activities.

The FBI has previously warned of similar scams, which often threaten fines or suspended driving privileges if payments are not made. Authorities recommend that anyone receiving such texts should report them to the FBI's IC3 internet crime complaint center and promptly delete the messages. As these scams continue to proliferate, public awareness and vigilance are crucial in preventing financial loss.