New York residents targeted in scams
New York officials also warned residents of scammers posing as Department of Motor Vehicles officials sending phishing texts.
These texts claim that the state is offering $1,500 rebates to help cover the cost of fuel and tell New Yorkers to follow a link to check their eligibility.
These announcements come at a time when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reporting an uptick in text scams.
Cybersecurity experts say that clicking a link from a suspicious text or email doesn’t necessarily mean the user will be hacked.
However, you should always use caution when clicking on links from unknown sources, and be skeptical of messages allegedly coming from governmental departments or financial institutions.
Places like the bank or government offices will almost never reach out to you or ask you to provide personal information through non-secure web pages.
Also look closely for spelling errors or misplaced punctuation, which are often clear signs of phishing messages.
If you believe you’ve been the victim of a scam, you should also report it to the FTC.
