In recent months, an alarming trend has developed: drivers nationwide are being targeted by deceptive text messages stating they owe unpaid tolls. These scams — which are meant to steal personal and financial information — have become more sophisticated. It’s important to know how to recognize and deal with these misleading messages to protect your information.
Decoding Toll Road Scam Text Messages
Toll road scam texts are a type of “smishing” (SMS phishing): messages that look as if they’re from legitimate toll agencies, but are sent by fraudsters. These messages usually alert recipients to outstanding toll balances and attempt to prompt immediate payment to avoid penalties. The main intention behind is to deceive people to click on the malicious links or to enter sensitive information, including credit card numbers or personal details.
Recent Incidents Around the United States
These types of scams have become more prevalent across the country — reports have been coming in from various states about the problem:
- Georgia: Residents have gotten texts that look like they’re from “Peach Pass,” Georgia’s electronic toll collection system, saying they have outstanding tolls. The Georgia Attorney General’s office confirmed these messages are scams and warned against clicking on any links.
- North Carolina: Drivers were sent scam texts purporting to come from E-ZPass or FasTrak demanding that they pay unpaid tolls or face legal action. Legitimate toll agencies, they pointed out, do not ask people to pay fees through unsolicited text messages.
- Connecticut: Though the state has no toll roads, people there received texts about unpaid tolls, a sign of the far reach of these scams. Officials cautioned against clicking on links in such messages and said to confirm any claims through official channels.
Identifying Scam Text Messages about Toll Roads
To safeguard yourself, watch out for these warning signs:
- Unsolicited Messages: Unexpected messages about unpaid tolls, especially if you haven’t used a toll road recently.
- (Payments due) Urgent language: Scammers routinely use urgency and threats of late fees, legal action or license suspension to spur quick and only compliance.
- Suspicious Links: These are URLs that closely resemble the official website of your local toll agency, but have slight misspellings or unusual domains.
- No Requests for Personal Info: Legitimate toll authorities ordinarily won’t ask for locksmith sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or financial institution details, by text.
Expert Insights
Cybersecurity experts warn people to be skeptical of unsolicited messages. Scammers, industry professionals suggest, prey on fear and try to induce a sense of panic to encourage people to act quickly.
Protective Measures
How to protect yourself from toll road scam texts:
- Avoid Clicking on Links – Do not click on any links in unsolicited texts.
- Verify Through Official Channels – Contact the toll agency directly, using known contact information, to verify any claims.
- Report Suspicious Messages — Forward fraudulent texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Monitor Financial Statements — Review bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions on a regular basis.
- Utilize Security Software – Have trusted security software on your devices to help identify and stop potential threats.
Conclusion
Toll road scam texts are a serious and growing threat, but if you remain informed and vigilant, you can guard against becoming a victim. Never trust hu and h notation, always check machines on the channels, and in any case of suspicion, you should contact authorities.
FAQs
What to do if you get a toll road scam text?
Avoid clicking on any links or sharing any personal information. New messages should be reported to the FTC and your state’s tolling agency.
How do I check whether I owe any tolls?
Find the toll agency’s official phone number (on its website or correspondence) and call that number directly.
Can toll agencies bill you via text?
Most toll agencies won’t ask for payment via unsolicited text messages.
What if I clicked on a scam link by accident?
Disconnect from the internet immediately, run a security scan on your computer, and check all your financial accounts for suspicious activity.
Can these scam texts download malware to my phone?
Cluck click that, yes, clicking on fishy links can lead to installing a malware that will hack your personal information.
