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A friend was in the Toronto area last weekend and got this scam SMS today. Quite a coincidence. Is it possible that the scammers are using Stingray-type devices to scrape phone numbers for this kind of thing? I don't know much about the devices or how they work, just that they exist.
https://sls.eff.org/technologies/cell-site-simulators-imsi-catchers
I keep and edit these to train relatives. This one ticks all the boxes:
✓ Non-local (West Virginia in this case) area code (not shown)
✓ Scary language to throw the recipient off balance
✓ Chinese URL
✓ Standard scammer tactic to make the link (and any forthcoming) links active by inviting a reply
![Screenshot of an SMS scam:
[407 ETR Toll Alert] - Toll
Violation Notice
Our records indicate that you
may have an unpaid toll violation
on the 407 ETR. Please settle
your outstanding balance online
within 24 hours at the link
below. If payment is not
received by the due date, you
may face fines, escalating late
fees, vehicle registration
suspension with ServiceOntario,
and potential legal action with
significant penalties.
https://407etr.com-ofzr.xin/ca
(Reply Y and re-open this
message to click the link, or
copy it to your browser.)](https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/114/155/851/322/019/373/original/7e02760d2432712e.png "Screenshot of an SMS scam:
[407 ETR Toll Alert] - Toll
Violation Notice
Our records indicate that you
may have an unpaid toll violation
on the 407 ETR. Please settle
your outstanding balance online
within 24 hours at the link
below. If payment is not
received by the due date, you
may face fines, escalating late
fees, vehicle registration
suspension with ServiceOntario,
and potential legal action with
significant penalties.
https://407etr.com-ofzr.xin/ca
(Reply Y and re-open this
message to click the link, or
copy it to your browser.)")
摏 @alan@mindly.social@MichaelPorter @eff Much more likely that some app is gathering geolocation data through something like WiFi SSIDs and then selling the data.