Officials Warn Of PennDOT, Turnpike ‘Smishing’ Campaign

Pennsylvania officials are alerting residents to a surge in text-based phishing scams targeting drivers with bogus claims of unpaid fines and tolls.

Officials are warning of a “smishing” campaign, which is where scammers impersonate PennDOT or other official agencies.

The fraudulent messages often threaten the immediate suspension of driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations unless a payment is made, often with an included link.

Officials advised that PennDOT and the Turnpike do not communicate with customers through text messages or unsolicited email.

Official correspondence from PennDOT about driver and vehicle services is conducted through the U.S. Postal Service.

“If you receive a text message notice from a sender claiming to be from PennDOT who is threatening to suspend your license or registration privilege, do not click on any links and just delete the message,” said Kara Templeton, PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services. “These messages are not from PennDOT.”

The alert was released in a joint effort by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PennDOT.

The goal of the scammers is to trick recipients into revealing sensitive financial or personal data, officials said.

“Unfortunately, malicious actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to exploit Pennsylvanians,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting state police commissioner.

State police advise residents to:

• Never share personal information, including banking or credit card details, through email or text message.

• Stay vigilant. Scam emails or text messages usually appear legitimate. If you are not expecting an email or text message from an entity, do not click on any links or respond to the message. Look up a legitimate customer service phone number for the entity and contact them directly to verify whether they are trying to contact you.

Troopers said victims of scams should contact their local police agency and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

This story originally appeared on Levittownnow.com. It is republished with permission.