With many states turning to “pay by plate” options rather than using attendants to collect road toll fees, a new form of phishing scam has cropped up and quickly become the top concern being shared on BBB’s Scam Tracker site.
As is the case with most phishing scams, these messages are being sent out to a wide list of phone numbers, with the sender likely having no idea if any of the recipients have traveled on a toll road recently. They hope you have and will believe the message is authentic.
Here’s how the scam typically works:
You receive a text message from what appears to be a state tollway collection service, like the Illinois Tollway or the Florida Turnpike. The text message says you owe a road toll fee — usually of a fairly small amount — but requires you to pay it immediately to avoid a late fee of $50 or more. Regardless of the amount contained in the message, a common element is the push for quick action to avoid additional fees.
The message includes a link to a page where you can settle your balance. The URL will likely contain the name of a state’s toll service but will be masking a different URL. If you click the link and provide your personal and payment information on the website, scammers could now have access to that information, and you may have lost some money.