Remember that trip you took a few months back? No? Well, you didn’t pay your toll and if you don’t pay up soon you could run up late fees or worse. Or so goes the latest Internet scam. It seems like most of us have been receiving these seemingly innocuous alerts by text or e-mail and all too many folks have fallen for a scam the FBI has now issued a warning about. Headlight.News has more.
More and more toll roads are doing away with toll collectors meaning it’s easier to forget whether you paid during a past trip.
You likely were smart enough not to invest in the scheme that some “Nigerian prince” came up with. And didn’t hand over information on your bank account when you got that fake notice from PayPal. Or Visa. Or American Express.
But what about the text you got warning that you’re running up late fees on a toll you forgot to pay months ago. Who’d try to scam you out of $6.99? Apparently, many American motorists have taken those warnings seriously and found out they’re just another way to get access to your personal data and, if you’re not careful, could give crooks access to your bank account.
“It is a SCAM,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill wrote in a Facebook this week. “If you ever receive a text that looks suspicious, be sure to never click on it. You don’t want your private information stolen by scammers.”
What’s going on?
Millions have received fake toll collection notices like this.
Criminals have found Americans growing more vigilant about online schemes like the now-iconic Nigerian prince scam. They keep looking for alternative and have figured out that they don’t have to promise millions of dollars in return to get folks to relinquish their personal information, often including access to their bank accounts and credit cards.
The scammers have been sending out by the millions legitimate-looking alerts claiming recipients owe small amounts, typically $6.99, $11.69 or $12.51, in unpaid toll bills. If you don’t pay up quickly, the texts advise, you could be hit with a $50 late fee or some other costly penalty.
The scammers normally rely on texts that look legitimate enough and usually carry the name – and logo – of an agency in states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois or California that operate toll roads. But pay at your own peril. If you respond you could wind up giving the thieves access to your personal information.
Who’s behind this?
Some “smishing” schemes claim payment is due in states that don’t have toll roads.
According to Unit 42, the cybersecurity arm of Palo Alto Networks, a “threat actor” has registered about 10,000 domains to operate this and other scams. It also includes fake messages from the USPS, UPS or some other shipping agency.
Who’s behind this “smishing” scheme – short for SMS, or Short Message Service and phishing – isn’t clear but it’s got authorities on notice. The scam actually isn’t new, the FBI issuing a warning back in April 2024 about this “smishing” scheme –that term short for SMS, or Short Message Service, and phishing. It noted then that evidence “indicates the scam may be moving from state-to-state.”
In some cases, the messages claim recipients owe money to states that don’t even have toll roads. “A fake text is going around claiming you owe toll road fees in Nevada. Don’t fall for it! Nevada has no tolls on public roads,” the Nevada Department of Transportation said in a warning message issued earlier this month.
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What to do if you get a notice
The FBI warning.
Unfortunately, some folks actually do wind up owing tolls. In Orange County, California for one, there are no longer toll collectors and that means you might have to pay up by snail mail or online. Even if you get a notice you think actually might be valid do not click on any links. The FBI offers this advice:
- File a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov, be sure to include:
- The phone number from where the text originated.
- The website listed within the text
- Check your account using the toll service’s legitimate website.
- Contact the toll service’s customer service phone number.
- Delete any smishing texts received.
- If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
In some instances, scammers are still sending out e-mails which tell recipients to download a file they claim has an invoice for unpaid tolls. Again, ignore the bill and track down that state’s legitimate website. Odds are the e-mail was a scam and you’ll be told to ignore it.
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