Have you received a fraudulent text message on your iPhone from FasTrak asking you to pay a toll? If so, you are one of many who have received it – including myself. I asked Google to tell me approximately how many people have received it, and apparently a lot of people have, though Google did not provide a specific number. That link above shows that most news stories center around users in San Francisco being targets of the hack. Anecdotally, I know of persons in San Diego County also being targeted.
There’s an interesting debate on Reddit as to whether these scammers know both your phone number and your driving activity. Based on my own experiences with receiving these fraud text messages, I agree with the majority of the Redditors that these fraudsters do NOT have such data on us; rather, if you received the scam message on the same day that you used your FasTrak, well, that’s simply a coincidence. One alarming thing to me is that they seem to know I live in California because I have a Chicago area code – and FasTrak doesn’t exist in Chicago – otherwise how else did they know to target me? Was it simply a lucky guess on their part … maybe.
As I teach in my course iPhone For Seniors, there are certain tell-tale signs of fraud in these FasTrak phishing texts (also called smishing texts). Here’s what they are:
- Suspicious Links: The links in the message mimic official FasTrak websites but have small variations in spelling or domain names.
- Urgent Language: The text message suggests immediate payment to avoid fines or legal action.
- Poor Grammar or Formatting Issues: Many scam messages contain typos, awkward phrasing, or inconsistent branding.
Don’t get caught up in these scams. Below are some steps recommended by ChatGPT to help you protect yourself.
How to Protect Yourself
If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from FasTrak, follow these steps:
- Do Not Click Any Links: Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages. Instead, visit the official FasTrak website by typing the URL directly into your browser.
- Verify with FasTrak: If you’re unsure about a notification, contact FasTrak directly using their official customer service number.
- Check Your Account: Log in to your official FasTrak account to see if there are any outstanding tolls or violations.
- Report the Scam: Notify FasTrak, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if you receive fraudulent messages.
- Monitor Your Finances: If you suspect that your personal information has been compromised, monitor your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions.