District Attorney Warns of New Scams
TCDA staff are reporting a new scam, this time impersonating the California Franchise Tax Board.
Like the DMV scam, scammers use government agencies to make their efforts seem credible.
If you receive a suspicious or unsolicited text message claiming to be from FTB, do not respond or click on any links, as the text is likely a “phishing” scam trying to obtain usernames, passwords, payments, credit and debit card numbers, banking information, PINs, social security numbers.
FTB does not send text messages asking for personal or financial information or account numbers.
In yet another “smishing” attempt, scammers are urging you to provide personal information. Delete the text and move on! You can read more about this specific scam and how to report it at https://tinyurl.com/mv6cybah (United States Postal Inspection Service).
Here’s another text scam we’ve received, this time targeting people who may have traveled over the holidays.
The #FasTrak scam as seen here asks you to follow a link to pay for toll roads and bridges. FasTrak does NOT request payment by text with a link to a website.
This scam is a bit more specific, but scammers wouldn’t be using it if people didn’t fall for it. As always, delete suspicious texts, do not engage, and certainly do not provide private identifying information. The California Attorney General has a great breakdown of this scam and what to do with all scam texts. Visit https://tinyurl.com/yuvr7xm9 (CA AG) for more.
Another day, another scam.
The Amazon phone scam is a little bit more believable, but just as nefarious in its intent to get your personal information. In this scam, the caller or message informs you of an expensive Amazon purchase that needs authorization. Unsure? Always check your account or credit card to verify, and never give personal identifying information like bank details, social security number, or account passwords.
Scammers use aggressive fear tactics like the ones shown here to get personal information and access to funds. “Smishing,” short for SMS phishing, wouldn’t be profitable if people didn’t fall for it. Don’t click on suspicious links and delete these messages when you receive them. If you have legitimate concerns, call the DMV at 800-777-0133.
