E-ZPass Phishing Scams Escalate, Baffling Tech Companies
Recent reports highlight a troubling surge in phishing scams masquerading as E-ZPass, the electronic toll collection system used widely across the United States. Cybersecurity experts report a 900% increase in these fraudulent messages over the last three months, overwhelming efforts by smartphone manufacturers and security teams to block them. Researchers have identified over 60,000 domains involved in these scams, many traced back to Chinese networks, suggesting a large, organized effort to exploit unwary consumers.
The scammers’ strategy involves sending mass texts that deceitfully claim to be from E-ZPass, requesting payment for unpaid tolls. These messages are cheap for scammers to produce and distribute as they buy phone numbers in bulk from the black market. The simplicity and low cost of the setup make it an effective trap for many who, fearing penalties, may pay the nominal fees requested.
However, the real danger extends beyond the small payments. Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at Trend Micro, emphasizes that the primary aim is to harvest personal data. Once obtained, this information can be used for more extensive and damaging scams. Despite advancements in smartphone technology, scammers have cleverly found ways to circumvent safety features that typically block such links, particularly on Apple’s iPhones. They also rapidly change the numbers from which they send texts, staying ahead of Android’s efforts to blacklist them.
This ongoing issue has prompted warnings from law enforcement and government officials. They advise the public to completely ignore these texts and not even respond with a “stop” message, as this confirms the activity and validity of the recipient’s phone number. The use of artificial intelligence by scammers is making their messages increasingly sophisticated and harder to distinguish from legitimate communications.
As this form of cybercrime becomes more prevalent, staying informed through credible sources is crucial for public safety. For a deeper understanding and the latest updates on how to protect yourself from such scams, reading comprehensive reports from trusted news outlets like CNBC can provide essential insights and tips.
For more detailed coverage and tips on protecting yourself, visit CNBC’s full report on this cybersecurity issue.
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This post was last modified on March 17, 2025