FBI Tells iPhone Users 1 Text Message to Delete Immediately
The FBI has issued a new warning for iPhone users regarding a text-message scam that has been bombarding users lately.
According to Forbes, messaging attacks on iPhone and Android are up more than 700% this month. One malicious text that has been making the rounds involves bad actors posing as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and demanding money for unpaid tolls or fines at the threat of possible loss of license or jail time.
These DMV texts are more dangerous than the previous unpaid toll messages that have been popping up on people's phones for more than year, according to Guardio.
'These scam texts lead to phishing websites designed to steal people's credit card information and make unauthorized charges," Guardio told Forbes.
Last week, WREG reported that the FBI is investigating the scheme. FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Palmer told WREG that the DMV messages are a "copycat" of the toll scam.
'It costs next to nothing for them to use these algorithms to send these messages and calls out, but in return, they can achieve getting your personal information, putting malware on your phone, which then can go in and steal information from your device, or collect your payment information,' Palmer said.
Palmer added that upon receiving one of the texts, he immediately picked up upon wording clues that gave away that it was a con.
'A couple of things that I noticed immediately, on it, is the text message I received said it was from the North Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles. So you know, obviously, there is no north or south Tennessee, a red flag immediately and also looking at the sender, the message I received was from email address @catlover.com, obviously that is not a government address,' Palmer said.
The FBI added that real government agencies will not contact you in this manner. The organization also advises any users to not click on links they receive in text messages from unknown sources and to delete the texts "immediately."
This crop of DMV scam messages have been reported around the country, including Tennessee, Arizona, New York, Minnesota, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington D.C.
FBI Tells iPhone Users 1 Text Message to Delete Immediately first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 16, 2025
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