Text message scams seem to be becoming more and more common and sophisticated. As soon as you’ve learned how to spot a USPS text scam, there’s a new scam with a different ploy circulating. One of the more recent ones is a toll fees text scam. If you live somewhere where tolls are few and far between, these are easy to ignore. But if you drive in areas with tolls frequently, this scam aimed at phishing for your personal information might grab your attention.
How To Determine If a Toll Fees Text Is a Scam
According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division (MassDOT), these toll text scams, or smishing messages, are targeted toward EZDriveMA customers. The message generally indicates that the recipient has failed to pay a toll and directs them to a URL where they can pay the fees.
A popular example of the scam’s text reads, “Pay your FastTrak Lane toll before January 8, 2025. To avoid fines and retain your driver’s license, you can click on the link to make payment,” followed by a bit.ly link that the user can’t identify the destination of from within the text.
MassDOT has emphasized that “EZDriveMA will never request payment by text” and “all links associated with EZDriveMA will include www.EZDriveMA.com.” So, if you receive a text message indicating that you owe money for tolls with an unidentifiable link, you can safely assume it is a scam.
What To Do If You Receive a Toll Text Scam
MassDOT confirms that the FBI is aware of the toll text scams andstresses the importance of reporting these messages to theIC3. Make sure that your complaint lists the number that sent you the phony text and the website it directed you to.
Once you’ve submitted the complaint, the FBI suggests that you log into your EZDriveMA account through the real website to check your account. You can also call the customer service line with questions at (877) 627-7745. Finally, once you’ve reported the scam and checked your account, you should delete the phony message from your device.
What To Do If You Engage With a Toll Fees Text Scam
Sometimes, a scam text seems legit until you click on it. If you do follow the link in one of these smishing texts or share any of your personal information, MassDOT and the FBI recommend that you “take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts,” as well as “dispute any unfamiliar charges.”
Keep yourself safe by checking your bank and credit card statements, changing your passwords for everything related to your EZDriveMA account, and considering utilizing a free credit monitoring service.
Source
MassDOT Alerts Customers of EZDriveMA Scam, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division, 2024.
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