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Highway Robbery: Anatomy of a Toll Road Scam


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It starts with a ping on your phone: "According to our records, you have an outstanding toll charge." It looks official, cites municipal codes, and threatens a late fee or legal action if the balance remains unpaid. But there’s a catch. You haven't been to that state recently, if at all.
 
On this episode of AutoVision News Radio, Carl Anthony examines the recent surge of toll-related text scams. Drawing from his latest reporting for technology website How-To Geek, Carl explains why these "smishing" attacks are so effective and how scammers exploit our desire to be law-abiding citizens to steal sensitive financial data.
 
In this AV Radio episode:
  • The Spray-and-Pray Method: Why you're getting texts from states you've never visited.
  • Red Flags: How to spot the differences between a fake URL and a legitimate agency site.
  • Verification vs. Panic: Safe ways to check your account status without falling into a trap.
  • Protective Steps: What to do if you continue to receive these messages.
  • More Resources:
     
    Why you’re getting unpaid toll texts from states you’ve never visited via Carl Anthony for How-To Geek: https://tinyurl.com/3p93ej9e
     
    FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
     
    Follow AutoVision News Radio on LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/49jyrd3b
     
    AV Radio is a Detroit Deep Media Production: https://detroitdeepmedia.com/
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    AutoVision News RadioBy Carl Anthony