Continued efforts to strengthen community and business security
The Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce is proud of their strategic partnership with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP), aimed at enhancing security awareness, resilience, and preparedness within our business community. Through this almost decade long collaboration, businesses and organizations across our region have gained access to critical cybersecurity insights, threat assessments, and emergency preparedness resources that help protect employees, customers, and infrastructure. By leveraging NJOHSP’s expertise and the Southern Ocean Chamber’s network, we are fostering a safer, more informed business environment; empowering local enterprises to stay ahead of emerging security challenges.
Recently, The New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) has issued an alert regarding a fraudulent SMS phishing (SMiShing) scam targeting New Jersey residents. This scam impersonates the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), falsely claiming that recipients have an outstanding traffic ticket due by May 29. The message threatens suspension of vehicle registration and driving privileges, increased toll booth charges, and a negative impact on credit scores if payment is not made.
How the Scam Works
Scammers craft deceptive messages with URLs that include terms like “ezpassnj” and “.gov” to appear legitimate. Instead of allowing direct interaction with the embedded link, the message instructs recipients to reply with “Y,” reopen the message, or manually copy the URL into a browser. These steps are designed to lure victims into visiting fraudulent websites that steal personal information, financial details, or account credentials.
Similar scams have been seen impersonating New Jersey toll services and E-ZPass, falsely claiming unpaid tolls and threatening late fees.
What You Need to Know
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC) only sends text messages to remind residents about scheduled appointments. It does not send messages regarding driver’s licenses or vehicle registration statuses.
New Jersey E-ZPass does not send unsolicited text messages to request payments. If your account is in collections, you may receive legitimate texts from Credit Collection Services, but they will always include a verified phone number, their official website www.ccspayment.com, and a reference file number.
How to Keep You and Your Business Safe
Do not click links, reply, or engage with unsolicited text messages. Visit official websites directly to check for outstanding payments or issues. Never enter personal, financial, or account information on unverified websites. Report suspicious messages to the FTC, FBI’s IC3, and NJCCIC. Forward phishing texts to 7726 (SPAM).
Reporting Cyber Threats
If you suspect fraudulent activity, report incidents to NJCCIC using the Cyber Incident Report Form at www.cyber.nj.gov/report.
For further inquiries, reach out to NJCCIC at njccic@cyber.nj.gov or visit cyber.nj.gov for ongoing cybersecurity updates.
