The Louisiana Attorney General's office has issued a warning about a scam involving fraudulent text messages. The 'overdue toll scam' is reportedly affecting residents in various parts of the state. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers are sending texts that appear to be from a tolling agency, urging recipients to pay supposed overdue toll charges.
These messages contain links that, if clicked, can lead to identity theft and financial loss. Scammers may obtain personal information or credit card details from unsuspecting victims who follow the instructions in these texts.
Attorney General Murrill emphasized the risk this scam poses, particularly to older individuals. "This is a common scam that you may never fall for; however, your older family members could be targeted and at-risk of losing money from it. We urge everyone to pay close attention to who is texting and calling them, and asking for funds," said Attorney General Murrill.
To help prevent falling victim to this scam, the Public Protection Division offers several tips:
- Verify any claims by contacting the tolling agency directly.
- Avoid clicking on links or responding to texts from unknown contacts.
- Record the phone number and website included in any suspicious message before deleting it.
Residents are encouraged to report such scams through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. For further consumer safety advice, individuals can contact Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889.