Apr 18, 07:30 PM

Fake E-ZPass Smishing Scam Linked to China Targets U.S. Drivers in 8 States, FTC Reports $470 Million Lost

A widespread smishing scam targeting drivers in eight U.S. states has been linked to a China-based criminal group. The scam involves fake E-ZPass toll payment texts designed to steal credit card information. The phishing kits used in this campaign are reportedly sold by a computer science student named Wang Duo Yu and have been utilized in over 121 countries. According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost approximately $470 million in 2024 to scams initiated via text messages. Among the most common text scams is a fake package delivery alert that prompts victims to click on malicious links. Additionally, a Chinese arms dealer was jailed in France for selling IMSI-catchers, radio devices used to send scam SMS messages, with claims that their export occurs with the consent of Chinese political leaders. These developments highlight the growing sophistication and international reach of smishing campaigns that have cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars.

#China #Wang Duo Yu #Federal Trade Commission #Americans #Chinese #France

Written with ChatGPT (GPT-4).

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Fake E-ZPass Smishing Scam Linked to China Targets U.S. Drivers in 8 States, FTC Reports $470 Million Lost

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