WORCESTER—As warmer weather rolls in, so do new waves of scams. Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis is warning residents about a recent surge in “smishing” schemes—fraudulent text messages designed to steal personal information.
Smishing, a blend of “SMS” (short message service) and “phishing,” involves deceptive messages that may appear to come from banks, government agencies, or delivery services. These messages often include a link or phone number that, once clicked or called, can lead to identity theft or malware installation.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, these texts may look official but are often traps. “If you do not initiate contact and an unknown caller is requesting money or making threats of arrest or loss of utilities, it’s likely a scam,” Sheriff Evangelidis said in a statement.
Among the recent smishing scams reported in Massachusetts:
- MassDOT Toll Scam: Victims receive texts about unpaid tolls, urging them to pay through a fraudulent link.
- USPS Package Scam: A text claims a package couldn’t be delivered, directing the recipient to a fake site to “resolve” the issue.
- One-Ring Scam: Victims receive a missed call from an unfamiliar number, often international. When the number is called back, it results in high charges.
The sheriff’s office is also alerting residents about a spoofing scam in which callers pretend to be law enforcement, claiming the recipient missed jury duty or has a warrant. The caller demands payment to avoid arrest.
“Residents need to beware of any unsolicited calls that ask for their personal or financial information,” said Evangelidis. “These callers can sound convincing, may be aggressive, and try to intimidate you with threats of jail time or steep fines.”
The Sheriff’s Office urges the public to avoid responding to suspicious texts or calls and to report scams to the proper authorities. More information can be found at www.WorcesterCountySheriff.com.
