Open Forum

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats

There is a similar scam about unpaid tolls. It comes via text message and comes across very legitimate. 

------------------------------
Janet Noack
CPA
Foreign Tax CPA, LLC
Cocoa Beach FL
+1 (321) 784-8329

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 10:47
From: Bruce Phillips
Subject: Beware! Your next parking ticket alert might just be a clever scam! 🚨

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats

------------------------------
Bruce Phillips
SVP & CISO
WFG National Title Insurance Company
Irvine CA
+1 (949) 430-3776
------------------------------

Yes, I got several text messages alleging to be from EZ Pass for Toll Fees last week.  Be careful out there!

------------------------------
J. Rawleigh Simmons
Manager
River Title & Escrow, LLC
Warsaw VA
+1 (804) 333-0195
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 12:04
From: Janet Noack
Subject: Beware! Your next parking ticket alert might just be a clever scam! 🚨

There is a similar scam about unpaid tolls. It comes via text message and comes across very legitimate. 

------------------------------
Janet Noack
CPA
Foreign Tax CPA, LLC
Cocoa Beach FL
+1 (321) 784-8329

Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2025 10:47
From: Bruce Phillips
Subject: Beware! Your next parking ticket alert might just be a clever scam! 🚨

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats

------------------------------
Bruce Phillips
SVP & CISO
WFG National Title Insurance Company
Irvine CA
+1 (949) 430-3776
------------------------------

There is a similar scam about unpaid tolls. It comes via text message and comes across very legitimate. 

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats

There is a similar scam about unpaid tolls. It comes via text message and comes across very legitimate. 

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats

Here is a screen shot of the Toll Scam

There is a similar scam about unpaid tolls. It comes via text message and comes across very legitimate. 

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats

 A sweeping phishing campaign has hit numerous US cities, capitalizing on the fear of unpaid parking fines to dupe individuals into unwittingly surrendering their personal information. Victims receive text messages alleging to be from city parking authorities, warning of unpaid parking invoices that risk accumulating a $35 daily fine. The deceit doesn't end there; these texts cleverly include links that use Google's open redirects, tricking victims into visiting phishing sites that mimic city-specific parking violation pages.

This sophisticated scam leverages the reliability of trusted domains to bypass security measures like those introduced by Apple, which block links from unknown or suspicious sources. By masquerading as a legitimate city department and urging immediate action, scammers succeed in creating a convincing facade, making it easier to ensnare unsuspecting users. The inclusion of minor errors, such as the misplacement of the dollar sign, subtly hints at the scam's external origins but can easily go unnoticed.

The rise of such targeted phishing campaigns underscores a crucial need for heightened vigilance and cybersecurity awareness. Always approach unexpected financial demands skeptically and verify through official channels before taking action. Educating oneself and others on recognizing the signs of phishing attempts is paramount to safeguarding personal information in this digital age. 

Take a stand against these cunning threats! Stay informed, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true warnings, and report suspicious messages to protect yourself and your community from falling prey to such exploits.

#cyber411 #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #Malware #CyberThreats