The Rising Threat of Toll Payment Scams: How to Protect Yourself

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Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting toll payment scams, sending fraudulent SMS messages with urgent payment demands. These scams use psychological pressure, fake security measures, and poorly validated forms to steal credit card details.

How the Scam Works

  1. Fake SMS with Urgency: Victims receive an SMS claiming a small toll payment (e.g., €6.80) is due “tomorrow.”
  2. Phishing Link: The message includes a link to a fraudulent website with a fake reCAPTCHA.
  3. Data Harvesting: The site collects personal and payment details without validation (e.g., accepting invalid dates like 45/45/1802).
  4. Credit Card Theft: The primary goal is stealing credit card numbers for unauthorized transactions.

You Should Know: How to Detect and Prevent Toll Scams

1. Verify SMS Legitimacy

  • Report Suspicious SMS: Forward scam messages to `33700` (France’s spam reporting service).
  • Check Domain Age: Use `whois` to verify when a domain was registered (scam sites are often new):
    whois example.com

2. Analyze Phishing Links

  • Inspect URLs: Use `curl` to fetch headers without visiting the site:
    curl -I "http://suspicious-site.com"
  • Check Google Safe Browsing:
    python3 -m pip install safebrowsing 
safebrowsing check --url "http://suspicious-site.com"

3. Block Malicious Domains

  • Edit Hosts File (Linux/Windows):
    sudo nano /etc/hosts 
127.0.0.1 suspicious-site.com

(Windows: `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts`)

4. Monitor for Typosquatting

  • Use `dnstwist` to Find Fake Domains:
    dnstwist --registered example.com

5. Secure Your Credit Card

  • Enable Transaction Alerts: Most banks offer SMS notifications for transactions.
  • Use Virtual Cards: Services like Revolut or Privacy.com generate disposable card numbers.

What Undercode Say

Toll scams thrive on urgency and poor cybersecurity awareness. Always:
– Verify payment requests via official channels.
– Educate vulnerable groups (e.g., elderly relatives).
– Use ad-blockers (uBlock Origin) to prevent accidental clicks.
– Report phishing domains via:
– Google Safe Browsing
– PhishTank

Prediction

As AI improves, expect more personalized scams using deepfake calls or hijacked corporate identities. Automated takedowns and AI-driven phishing detectors will become essential.

Expected Output:

- Report SMS scams: Forward to 33700 
- Check domain age: whois example.com 
- Inspect URLs: curl -I "http://scam-site.com" 
- Block domains: Edit /etc/hosts 
- Detect typosquatting: dnstwist example.com

IT/Security Reporter URL:

Reported By: UgcPost 7335322606927015936 – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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