Thu Mar 13 15:00:00 UTC 2025: **FBI Issues Nationwide Warning on Smishing Scam Surge**

**Washington, D.C.** – The FBI has issued a nationwide warning about a dramatic increase in smishing scams targeting Americans. These text message-based scams, a combination of SMS and phishing, utilize fraudulent messages to trick recipients into revealing personal and financial information. The FBI’s alert follows a report from cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, which details a massive campaign involving over 10,000 registered domains used to host malicious links.

Initially focusing on fake toll payment notifications, the scams have expanded to include false delivery alerts. The messages typically claim unpaid bills requiring immediate action, directing users to fake payment portals often hosted on foreign domains, particularly those using China’s .XIN TLD. To bypass Apple’s iMessage link blocking, scammers instruct victims to manually copy and paste URLs into their browsers.

The scam, believed to operate on a franchise model using toolkits from Chinese cybercriminal groups, has seen a fourfold increase since January, according to authorities. Major cities like Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Orlando are among the hardest hit. Even Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill reported receiving and being targeted by the scam.

Victims who attempt to make payments on these fraudulent sites often encounter deceptive error messages claiming card declines, prompting further entry of financial details. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that these scams not only lead to financial theft but also expose victims to identity fraud.

The FBI urges the public to:

* Report suspicious texts to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at http://www.ic3.gov.
* Verify payments with legitimate toll services or delivery companies directly.
* Delete suspicious messages immediately.
* Secure accounts and dispute unauthorized transactions if compromised.
* Avoid clicking links or responding to unexpected texts.
* Report scam texts using the “report junk” feature or by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM).

Cybersecurity experts highlight the increasing vulnerability of smartphone users to mobile-first attacks, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance against these evolving smishing scams. The public is advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid interacting with unsolicited text messages.

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