A rise in SMS phishing scams, known as “smishing,” is affecting drivers nationwide, including those in New Jersey. Cybercriminals are sending fraudulent text messages that appear to come from official toll agencies. These messages claim recipients have unpaid toll balances and urge immediate action to avoid late fees, fines, or license suspension.
In the past week, hundreds of new domains have been registered to mimic toll agencies across at least 20 states. Some of these target New Jersey residents with URLs similar to government websites, such as “nj.gov**[.]help/mvc.” The fraudulent pages often use New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission branding but can be identified by unusual domain endings like “.help” instead of “.gov.”
The scam texts typically state that a small amount is owed for an unpaid toll and may threaten penalties or suspension if payment is not made right away. The message includes a link directing users to a convincing but fake website.
Victims who visit these sites are asked for credit card information and sometimes personal details like date of birth, address, or driver’s license number. While the requested payment may be minor, the intent is to steal financial and personal data for further fraud.
Smishing campaigns are usually sent in bulk, so thousands could receive identical messages. College students and other digital natives are frequent targets due to their reliance on mobile devices and online transactions.
Legitimate toll agencies generally communicate through official mail or secure account portals and do not request immediate payments via unsolicited text messages with suspicious links.
“If you are unsure whether you owe a toll, always visit the official toll agency website by manually typing the correct URL into your browser, never by clicking a link in a text message.”
“If you receive a suspicious toll-related text message on your University-issued device or believe your Seton Hall account information may have been compromised, report it immediately to the Department of Information Technology. Prompt reporting helps protect both you and the broader University community. For more guidance on spotting phishing scams, review the Seton Hall University’s phishing awareness tips.”
