As Americans grapple with tough costs, a monetary rip-off has arose for numerous drivers — false toll street textual content messages. In current months, a number of retailers and social media customers have reported receiving rip-off notifications on their telephones, claiming to be toll fees.
Per CBS News, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned the nation that texts they’re receiving over supposed unpaid tolls are “probably” scams.
“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 famous in its alert. “Scammers are pretending to be tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money. Not only is the scammer trying to steal your money, but if you click the link, they could get your personal info (like your driver’s license number) — and even steal your identity.”
Keep studying to be taught extra concerning the rip-off messages and what to do if you happen to obtain one.
⚠️SCAM ALERT: Has anybody else gotten this textual content quite a few occasions this week? This is my FOURTH! You’ve received to admire the persistence however I’m not falling for it. Thanks however no thanks! https://t.co/RayBAsVubL pic.twitter.com/OLsOpPeZeo
— Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) February 22, 2025
What Do Real Roll Road Notifications Look Like?
E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail don’t notify drivers of unpaid tolls through textual content message requesting private info, corresponding to bank card or Social Security numbers. If you obtain a textual content or an electronic mail asking for personally identifiable particulars, you shouldn’t present that info.
What Do the Roll Road Scam Texts Look Like?
The rip-off texts differ in look, however New York, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Florida, Indianapolis, Pennsylvania and different states have reported drivers receiving messages claiming that they owed toll charges. According to USAToday, which reported that a few of its workers received these texts as effectively, one of many messages folks have acquired learn, “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).”
Another message that some Florida residents acquired learn, “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/,” in keeping with the outlet.
Can I Block the Toll Road Scams?
People can block any cellphone quantity that reaches out to their cellphone. The FTC introduced that Americans ought to do the next in the event that they receiving these scams:
- Don’t click on the hyperlink within the rip-off textual content; go to the precise toll service web site to examine an account’s stability
- Use a smartphone’s “report junk” function upon receiving certainly one of these texts
- If you do click on the hyperlink in certainly one of these rip-off messages, safe your entire private info as quickly as doable, together with financial institution accounts
- File a criticism with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and embrace the rip-off textual content’s cellphone quantity and the web site hooked up within the textual content