Text scams on the rise with fraudsters pretending to be road toll operators

ireland
Text Scams On The Rise With Fraudsters Pretending To Be Road Toll Operators
Pedestrians walk bast a brach of the Bank of Ireland near the Grand Canal Dock, in Dublin on January 8, 2019. - British MPs on Wednesday begin five days of debate ahead of a historic delayed vote on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, a day after giving her a stinging blow aimed at preventing the country from crashing out of the EU with no agreement. Ireland was opposed to Brexit and is fearful both of the impact on trade with biggest economic partner Britain and any destabilising influence on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of sectarian conflict. (Photo by Paul FAITH / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)
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Michael Bolton

Bank of Ireland is warning about an escalating wave of fraudulent text messages, with fraudsters pretending to be a motorway operator and sending messages urging customers to pay outstanding toll charges or update account details.

The links in the text messages are used to collect account details and access personal information.

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Ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend, Bank of Ireland is urging people not to respond or click on the links in the text message.

They are also reminding people that toll companies, banks, Government agencies, and delivery companies will never send a message asking for payment.

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: Smishing attacks tend to come in waves, and the latest theme is motorway fraud, where fraudsters are sending fake text purportedly from operators such as eFlow.

"When you click on the text it leads to a fake website where some will end up providing their confidential card and bank account details. As more people will be hitting the roads this Easter weekend, they might be more inclined to click on such a text message thinking it is legitimate.

“In the past we have seen similar waves of fraudulent messages appearing to be from delivery services, Government agencies or banks and now it seems that motorway smishing is trending. Text messages should be treated with extreme caution – the general rule is never trust, always verify.”

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