Mount Olive police warn public of rising ‘smishing’ scams targeting toll violations and other fraudulent activities

MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – The Mount Olive Police Department is urging the public to be cautious of an increase in ‘smishing’ scams, where scammers send fraudulent text messages attempting to collect money for fake toll violations, as well as other deceptive schemes.

The police warn residents to take the following precautions if they receive suspicious text messages:

• Do not click on any links in the message, as they could lead to fake websites designed to steal personal information or infect your device with malware.
• Do not respond to the message, even if it asks you to “text STOP” to stop receiving further messages.
• If the text claims to be from a company or government agency, verify contact information by checking your bill or reaching out to the company or agency through official channels.
• Delete suspicious messages and use the “Report Junk” option available on your phone to alert your service provider.
• Use multi-factor authentication to protect sensitive personal information whenever possible.

The key takeaway is to stop before engaging. Do not respond to suspicious texts.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a smishing scam, you are encouraged to contact the Mount Olive Township Police Department at (973) 691-0850 to report the incident.