Read Time:1 Minute, 56 Second
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported a significant increase in money lost due to phishing scams. In 2021, Australia lost $4.3 million but jumped to $24.6 million in 2022. Moreover, a substantial portion of these losses came from toll road scams.
According to ACCC, about 14,500 Australians have reported falling victim to a toll road scam, totalling losses worth $664,000. David Tuffley, a senior lecturer in cyber security at Griffith University, noted that “scammers phishing for information with websites that “spoofed” those of legitimate businesses had become increasingly slick in recent times.”
Tuffley added that scammers had come a long way in recent years by developing more realistic and professional-looking websites. He added that scammers realised that the more professional the website looked, the more it could fool victims.
According to Transurban’s e-tag tolling brand Linkt, the scam starts with users receiving SMS messages that look like Linkt sent them. The SMS contains information that the user has an unpaid toll on specific dates, then ends with instructions for the user to click on a short URL to make a payment. “These scam texts are being sent to the general public, including people who may not have an account with Linkt.”
The user will then be directed to a website that is an exact copy of the official Linkt website, where the scammers gain access to the users’ financial information. Scamwatch added that many phishing attempts were sent using unknown numbers, but some scammers were using a spoofing technique that could make the SMS look like Linkt sent it.
Many security experts recommend that users should be mindful when they receive SMS. Usually, poor grammar and spelling are the first signs that the SMS may be a scam. Experts also advise that the public should refrain from interacting with links in the SMS and should first check on the toll operator’s official website before making any payments.
Linkt reassured the public that their cyber security operations team is already working with telco providers to identify and block phone numbers that are sending malicious SMS. It also assures the public that no personal information has been stolen, as information on the date of their travel and the amount of toll due is easily searchable on toll operators’ official websites.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
