Pennsylvania Officials Warn of PennDOT Text Phishing Scams

Severity: Medium (Score: 57.8)

Sources: Community.Triblive, Triblive, Lewistownsentinel, Paturnpike, Altoonamirror

Summary

Pennsylvania officials have issued a warning regarding a series of text phishing scams impersonating the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). These scams threaten recipients with suspension of their driving or vehicle registration privileges unless they pay fines or tolls. The messages, which are not from PennDOT, are designed to create a sense of urgency, prompting individuals to click on malicious links that could compromise their personal and financial information. PennDOT confirmed it does not communicate with customers via text messages, relying instead on traditional mail. State officials, including the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, have emphasized the importance of vigilance against these scams. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission. The rise in such scams has been noted since 2024, particularly targeting E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers. Officials have not disclosed the number of affected individuals or any arrests related to these scams. Key Points: • PennDOT does not send text messages; all communications are via traditional mail. • Scam texts threaten legal action and urge recipients to click links to provide personal information. • Victims should report scams to local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.

Key Entities

• Phishing (attack_type)
• pa.gov (domain)
• paturnpike.com (domain)
• triblive.com (domain)
• T1566.002 - Spearphishing Link (mitre_attack)
• T1566 - Phishing (mitre_attack)