Traffic-Themed SMS Phishing Targets Users Around the World

Bitdefender is tracking 40 separate global smishing campaigns (over 79,000 messages and 29,000 unique variants) impersonating transport authorities, toll operators, and parking services across multiple languages; messages pressure recipients to click fraudulent links to pay fines or resolve tickets, leading to credential / payment theft or, in some regions, malware delivery. The report highlights the urgency-based social engineering, recurring phrasing (e.g., “35% late fee”), and offers guidance for recognizing these scams.