Scammers are targeting Americans nationwide by sending fraudulent text messages demanding payment for unpaid tolls. On Thursday, NepYork staff also received such a message.
The message claims: “The Toll Roads Notice of Toll Evasion: You have an unpaid toll bill on your account. To avoid late fees, pay within 12 hours or the late fees will be increased and reported to the DMV.”
The scam text instructs recipients to reply ‘Y’, exit the message, reopen it to activate the link, or copy and paste the provided link into the Safari browser. Additionally, scammers are directing victims to fake websites designed to steal personal and financial information.
Federal and state officials are cautioning the public against these deceptive messages. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a consumer alert, warning that scammers are impersonating tolling agencies across the country to trick people into providing sensitive information.
“You get a text out of the blue that says you have unpaid tolls and need to pay immediately. The scammy text might show a dollar amount for how much you supposedly owe and include a link that takes you to a page to enter your bank or credit card info — but it’s a phishing scam. 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,” the FTC stated in its alert.
The FTC strongly advises not to click on any links or respond to unexpected texts. Scammers rely on urgency to pressure victims into acting without verifying the legitimacy of the message.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, the FTC recommends the following steps:
Don’t click on any links in, or respond to, unexpected texts. Scammers want you to react quickly, but it’s best to stop and check it out.
Check to see if the text is legit. Reach out to the state’s tolling agency using a phone number or website you know is real — not the info from the text.
Report and delete unwanted text messages. Use your phone’s “report junk” option to report unwanted texts to your messaging app or forward them to 7726 (SPAM). Once you’ve checked it out and reported it, delete the text.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
