OPINION: Texts, links and links target Albuquerque residents

If you are among the multitudes who has a cell phone with texting, you are probably familiar with the toll scam. This is the one where you get contacted out of the blue by the government of some state telling you that you failed to pay a toll — even if you haven’t been to that state lately. Or ever.

The text says you can clear the overdue money by clicking a link or providing your financial information.

Now, there’s a new rendition. New Mexicans have been flooded with texts during the past month that pretend to be from the state transportation department, warning of an outstanding traffic ticket.

If you don’t pay it immediately, your vehicle registration will be no good, your driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days and “you may be prosecuted and your credit score will be affected.”

Don’t believe it.

“We never solicit for any kind of money,” says Kimberly Gallegos, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Albuquerque office. “We never try to get money over the phone. We never put out texts, other than (road) project updates.” Furthermore, the department never issues tickets, because it doesn’t have the authority.

Amazon scam

Amazon is warning its Prime customers about a new scam involving a supposed subscription price increase.

Fake emails are claiming that the recipient’s Prime subscription “will automatically renew at an unexpected price,” Amazon says.

The emails include a “cancel subscription” button that goes to a fake login page. That page captures the person’s email and password, allowing the scammers to log in as the customer and make purchases on any stored credit cards. Also exposed are any other online accounts that use the same password.

Amazon adds that the emails may include personal information to make them seem more believable.

Refund ruse

Regarding a different type of Amazon scam, an Albuquerque reader says she got a text from a pretend “Amazon Customer Service Team” offering a refund because the seller “has not adhered to Amazon’s marketplace policies.”

Requesting a refund, though, requires clicking on a given link — and you don’t even have to return the item.

This is a scam. And the weird thing about the one the Albuquerque reader received is that it was sent on a group text, to 16 other people.

“I did receive my package, and I did not click on the link,” she says.

Here is some advice, from the Federal Trade Commission:

• Don’t click links in unexpected texts, even if it seems legitimate because it already has some private information about you. Contact the company by phone or email or via the website, if you are certain those are legitimate.
• If you have any questions, log in through the Amazon website or app.
• Send unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) or use your phone’s “report junk” option. Then, delete the message.