An SMS text scam is targeting drivers nationwide, claiming that they owe unpaid tolls and need to make a payment immediately to avoid late fees. The scam texts may appear to be from E-ZPass and can include a link to a fraudulent website.
Many New Yorkers say they have received the scam via text message throughout January and February, shortly after the launch of congestion pricing on Jan. 5. MTA officials said they have been alerting customers online about the scam.
The bogus messages usually tell people they owe money and include a date and a clickable link to download a supposed invoice. MTA officials are advising people not to click the link. The agency said E-ZPass New York will never ask for a customer’s date of birth, Social Security number or other personally identifiable information. Actual communications from E-ZPass New York will only refer customers to EZPassNY.com and TollsByMailNY.com.
Cybersecurity firm Trend Micro has seen a 900% increase in searches for “toll road scams” in the last several months, meaning, the company says, that these scams are hitting everyone, everywhere, and hard. What makes the scam effective is that it is cheap and easy for scammers to utilize. They can buy numbers in bulk and send out millions of texts. A handful of people will be persuaded to pay the $3 toll fee to avoid the (fictional) threat of fines or licensing revocation. But it’s not the $3 they are interested in… personal information can be far more valuable.
Experts say that, even if you know the text is fraudulent, it is important to avoid the urge to text them a few choice words or a simple “stop.” Don’t engage at all.
If you receive a text message claiming that you owe money, do not click on the link in the text message. Instead, call E-ZPass New York directly at (800) 333-8655.
