Beware of the new road toll scam: Here's how you can safeguard yourself
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The roads may still be a peril for us even after we've comfortably parked our vehicles.
This time, it has nothing to do with the unpredictable drivers or dodgy potholes but with crafty road toll scams currently doing the rounds.
Last year, these sneaky schemers pocketed over half a million dollars straight from the pockets of unsuspecting motorists in Australia.
The scammers send text messages claiming a toll has not been paid. They craftily caution the driver about the need to dodge impending fines.
One message reads, 'Your vehicle was not deducted when it passes (sic) through the Toll Gate. Please deal with it in time to avoid fines'.
Imagine these scam messages lurking in your phone, waiting to snap up your bank details!
Scamwatch, a branch of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on constant high alert over emerging fraud tactics, has issued a hard-to-ignore warning about these phishing scams.
These deceitful messages aim to steal your personal information and empty your pockets. We say, 'Not on our watch, scammers!'
Scamwatch shared, ‘Watch out for the latest round of road toll scams. Don’t click the link! Instead, check your account by searching your registration plate number on the road toll company's website or log in the usual way.’
According to Scamwatch, they received an alarming 14,500 reports ladenwith cries of help from victims of road toll scams just in 2022. The reported losses are gobsmacking, totalling $664,000.
The scammers tend to masquerade as representatives from Linkt, a prominent road toll operator, professing that the motorist's account has run out of funds or, worse, has lingering dues.
To make it seem more authentic, they might use unknown numbers or resort to spoofing techniques to make it look like the messages are indeed from Linkt.
The plot thickens when unsuspecting customers click the link in the scam message.
This act is reciprocated by directing them to a phony Linkt website that looks convincingly real but is engineered to rob them of their personal or financial details.
To outsmart these clever clogs, Linkt has provided some warning signs to keep an eye on:
Linkt said some red flags to look out for include:
Have you heard about recent road toll scams targeting unsuspecting motorists? Share your thoughts and any experiences you may have had with such scams.
Additionally, feel free to discuss any measures or tips you follow to safeguard yourself against online scams and fraudulent activities!
This time, it has nothing to do with the unpredictable drivers or dodgy potholes but with crafty road toll scams currently doing the rounds.
Last year, these sneaky schemers pocketed over half a million dollars straight from the pockets of unsuspecting motorists in Australia.
The scammers send text messages claiming a toll has not been paid. They craftily caution the driver about the need to dodge impending fines.
One message reads, 'Your vehicle was not deducted when it passes (sic) through the Toll Gate. Please deal with it in time to avoid fines'.
A new wave of road toll scams is currently circulating. Source: SDC
Imagine these scam messages lurking in your phone, waiting to snap up your bank details!
Scamwatch, a branch of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on constant high alert over emerging fraud tactics, has issued a hard-to-ignore warning about these phishing scams.
These deceitful messages aim to steal your personal information and empty your pockets. We say, 'Not on our watch, scammers!'
Scamwatch shared, ‘Watch out for the latest round of road toll scams. Don’t click the link! Instead, check your account by searching your registration plate number on the road toll company's website or log in the usual way.’
Toll scams have become increasingly prevalent, causing concerns among road users. Image by Thirdman from Pexels
According to Scamwatch, they received an alarming 14,500 reports ladenwith cries of help from victims of road toll scams just in 2022. The reported losses are gobsmacking, totalling $664,000.
The scammers tend to masquerade as representatives from Linkt, a prominent road toll operator, professing that the motorist's account has run out of funds or, worse, has lingering dues.
To make it seem more authentic, they might use unknown numbers or resort to spoofing techniques to make it look like the messages are indeed from Linkt.
The plot thickens when unsuspecting customers click the link in the scam message.
This act is reciprocated by directing them to a phony Linkt website that looks convincingly real but is engineered to rob them of their personal or financial details.
To outsmart these clever clogs, Linkt has provided some warning signs to keep an eye on:
Linkt said some red flags to look out for include:
- Incorrect spelling and grammar
- Strange links that don’t look like legitimate websites
- Requests that may be vague or unspecific
- Use of urgent language or threats/consequences if you don’t take immediate action
Have you heard about recent road toll scams targeting unsuspecting motorists? Share your thoughts and any experiences you may have had with such scams.
Additionally, feel free to discuss any measures or tips you follow to safeguard yourself against online scams and fraudulent activities!
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