Smishing Scams Surge: Authorities Warn of Toll Agency Impersonations
Authorities worldwide are warning of a surge in smishing scams, with a significant increase in activity at the start of 2025. These sophisticated attacks, involving fake messages from tolling agencies, are targeting users in the US and UK, and may soon spread globally. Instant messenger platforms are urged to bolster protections against this growing threat.
The scam, known as smishing, involves fraudulent SMS and iMessage texts claiming unpaid toll bills. These messages appear legitimate, with spoofed sender names, and direct victims to phishing websites to harvest personal and financial information. Over 60,000 domain names have been registered to support these attacks.
Authorities advise consumers to verify toll payment claims through official websites and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages. This is because users tend to trust instant messages, and the urgent language used in these scams leads to higher conversion rates compared to other phishing methods.
The Smishing Triad, a China-based cybercriminal group, has been linked to this rise in smishing campaigns impersonating toll service providers. However, no specific Chinese group has been identified in the US and UK search results. A service called 'Oak Tel' or 'Carrie SMS' is being used by cybercriminals to manage campaigns and automate smishing attempts.
With millions of targeted messages reported, it's crucial for instant messenger platforms to adopt stronger protections against smishing. Consumers should remain vigilant, verify claims through official channels, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages. As smishing activity may spread globally, international cooperation and enhanced security measures are essential to counter this growing threat.
