The chorus of authorities warning about a popular text message scam has grown as fake toll road texts continue to attack consumers.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles warned residents that they may be targeted by the fake texts Monday, following in the footsteps of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
The scam tries to trick its victims by appearing as an attempt to collect a toll from a toll road agency such as EZ Pass. The scam is an attempt to steal victims’ money and personal information, according to a Federal Trade Commission advisory.
“While this scam continues to be reported on by various outlets and agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, new forms continue to surface,” the Turnpike Commission warned in a statement.
The FTC warned of the scam rearing its head again in January, after the FBI reported receiving more than 2,000 complaints reporting smishing scams representing toll road collection services in three states last April.
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USA TODAY staff in California, Washington D.C., Miami, New York City, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and New Jersey confirmed receiving at least one version of the same text messages − or variations of them − since the beginning of February.
“Whether you’ve driven through a toll recently or not, you might’ve gotten a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls. It’s probably a scam,” the FTC advisory said.
What the unpaid toll scam texts look like
The language in the scam text may vary by location. One scam message from Florida read: “Please pay your toll in Florida by January 21, 2025. In order to avoid excessive late fees and potential legal action on statements, please pay your tolls in time. Thank you for your cooperation and wish you a pleasant holiday. https://sunpass.com-8If5.sbs/us/”
Other variations of the scam may ask the intended victim to copy and paste a link into your browser instead of clicking through it directly.
One message received by a USA TODAY staff member in Washington D.C. read: ” “Pay your FastTrak Lane tolls by February 13, 2025. To avoid a fine and keep your license, you can pay at https://ezdrivema.com-xlk.vip/i/. (Please reply Y, then exit the text message and open it again to activate the link, or copy the link into your Safari browser and open it).”
What to do if you receive a toll road scam text
If you receive a toll agency text message demanding money, the FBI and FTC suggest to do the following:
- Do not click the link in the text and instead visit the legitimate toll service website directly to check your account balance. You can also contact the toll service’s legitimate customer service phone number.
- Delete any smishing texts and use your phone’s “report junk” feature before doing so.
- If you did click the link or provide any information, the FBI recommends making efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. This includes tracking and disputing any unfamiliar charges.
- File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center including the phone number where the text originated and the website listed in the text.
What is ‘smishing’?
“Smishing” is a social engineering attack that uses fake text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information or sending money to hackers, according to IBM. The term is a combination of “SMS” or “short message service” and “phishing,” an umbrella term for social engineering attacks.
