Scammers are sending out massive numbers of smishing (the term for phishing by text) text messages that contain language such as “Congratulations! As a valued AAA member, you qualify for a FREE emergency roadside kit. Click to claim.”  If you click on the link provided in the email it will take you to a phony, but legitimate appearing AAA website, most likely created by AI, where you will be prompted to provide personal information that, if provided, will lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft.  Making the matter worse, in some versions of this scam you will also be asked to provide credit card information to cover shipping or a handling charge or even for verification purposes.  And to make matters even more worse, merely clicking on the link in the text message may download malware that can steal information from your phone including passwords to sensitive accounts.

The scam is very effective for a number of reasons.  Through a simple technique called “spoofing” the scammer is able to make the phone number of the sender of the text message appear to be that of AAA.  In addition, with more than 60 million AAA members in the United States, scammers can send these text messages out through bulk texting platforms that enable them to send millions of these phony text messages easily.  Often the messages carry the familiar AAA logo, but it is a simple matter to use a counterfeit logo to make the text message appear legitimate.

TIPS

AAA does not send unsolicited text messages offering free gifts, does not ask members to click on links to claim prizes and never requests sensitive personal information from members by text message or email.  As I always remind you, “trust me you, can’t trust anyone” so if you do receive an email asking for a payment, asking you to click on a link, asking you to download an attachment or asking you to provide personal information, you should not take any of those actions until you have absolutely confirmed the communication was legitimate.  In this case, you can call AAA at the phone number that appears on your AAA membership card or go directly to the real AAA.com website to confirm that the text message was a scam.

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