Detecting fraud: Nasty phishing with France's motorway toll
Car toll Photo: Copyright: Adobe Stock
There are currently increasing numbers of phishing attacks targeting users of French motorways. But the fake text messages and emails can be identified if you know what to look out for.
Data thieves are taking advantage of the fact that toll booths are currently being phased out in France. Instead, they are being replaced by the so-called free-flow toll (péage en flux libre). The system is made possible by digitalization, which can record the exact mileage traveled by each car.
According to the ADAC ( German Automobile Club), the A13 and A14 (Paris – Caen), A4 (Saarbrücken – Metz), and A79 (Montmarault – Digoin) motorways have already been converted, opening up opportunities for criminals to expand their operations and send fake text messages or emails to motorway users. Deceptively authentic, they send out payment requests in the low double-digit range with remarkably short payment deadlines from well-known toll operators such as Vinci Autoroutes, Ulys, or Sanef. Anyone submitting their data to the fake addresses risks having their data harvested.
However, fake SMS and emails are easy to spot. According to Julian Schmelzer, founder of the toll box maut1.de , drivers should be aware of the following:
| 1. | SMS from official operators only come from “VINCI” or the short code 36035 |
| 2. | Real emails end exclusively with domains such as @ ulys.com , @ clients.ulys.com , @ vinci-autoroutes.com or @ services.ulys.com |
| 3. | There are no payment links in the messages. Payments are only made through the official customer portals. Drivers should therefore never click on links in suspicious messages, but rather manually access the toll operator's official website and check their customer account to see if there is indeed an outstanding invoice. |
Toll boxes are considered a good protection against scams because the toll fee is automatically collected and later billed to the payment method stored in the user account. Users therefore don't have to rely on SMS, emails, or apps from various toll operators.
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