A fake message says your toll account is past due and links to a near-perfect copy of a state turnpike site.
The “unpaid toll” text that asks you to log in.
A fake message says your toll account is past due and links to a near-perfect copy of a state turnpike site.
Principles to remember
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Reach websites by typing the address, not by tapping a link
Type the address yourself or use a saved bookmark. Tapping a link from an email or text hands the destination to whoever sent it.
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Treat urgency as a scam signal
Real institutions give you time. Pressure to act in the next few minutes is one of the loudest signals a scam gives off.
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A login screen is only as safe as the page hosting it
Real-looking login pages are easy to clone. Check the address bar, or skip the link entirely and go to the site directly.
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Call back through a number you found yourself
If someone contacts you claiming to be your bank, the IRS, or a tech company, hang up and reach them through a number you look up independently.