Just one click and your account can be emptied, know what is DMV scam and how to avoid it?
DMV scam is a new method of cyber fraud, in which people are tempted to click on phishing links by sending fake government messages.
Nowadays everyone has a smartphone in their hands and due to this our life has become easier than ever. But as technology has grown, the methods of cyber fraud are also becoming more cunning. Now a new scam has come to light, which is being called DMV scam. This is such a method of fraud in which a message comes on your phone, which looks absolutely real - especially from a government department.
What is DMV scam?
In this scam, you get a text message, which says that you have broken the traffic rule or there is some important information related to your vehicle. A link is given in this message and often ".gov" is written in it, so that you feel that this is a message from a government website. As soon as you click on that link, you are redirected to a fake website. There you are asked for personal information, such as bank details, credit card number etc. Sometimes malware can also be installed in your phone which can steal your data silently.
Where is this threat coming from?
According to media reports, this scam is being operated from China and recently such messages have increased rapidly in America. In the month of June, a 700% increase has been seen in the number of these messages. That is, the thugs have targeted millions of Americans.
How dangerous are these scammers?
According to reports, even a single cyber criminal can send 20 lakh fake messages daily. Imagine, this figure can reach 6 crores in a month. People can become victims of this scam on such a large scale. This threat is not limited to America only – in a country like India too, people have been targeted through such text scams. Only the method may be slightly different.
How to avoid this scam?
If you get any message that mentions traffic fine, vehicle registration, or any government action and asks you to click on a link – then be alert immediately.
Do not trust messages coming from unknown numbers.
Think about any link before clicking on it.
If in doubt, check the information by going directly to the concerned government website or app.
Keep antivirus in your phone and keep updating it regularly.
The DMV scam looks like a simple text message, but there is a big trap behind it which can put your personal information, money and security at risk. So if you also get any such suspicious message, ignore it and alert others too.
