2024-04-23 15:33:12
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is urging people to be on the lookout for a text message scam, also known as smishing, that sends requests for payment of outstanding toll charges.
The FBI recently issued a warning regarding the scam, which occurred in several states and did not specifically target E-ZPass customers.
Since March, people across the country have filed complaints with the FBI regarding receiving text messages representing toll road collection services claiming they owe money for unpaid tolls. The link in the text message is created to impersonate a toll facility or collection service, and phone numbers appear to change between states. By clicking on the link, people risk giving away sensitive data, including credit card information.
To date, VDOT is not aware that Virginia residents are receiving these smishing messages.
If someone receives an unsolicited text message that suggests it is from E-ZPass Virginia or a specific toll facility in Virginia, they should not click on the link.
If someone receives these text messages, they should reach out directly to the appropriate facility to verify authenticity. E-ZPass account holders and toll customers can check their accounts and pay tolls by going to the Toll Roads in Virginia website and E-ZPass website. People can too contact customer service representatives for the appropriate facility to validate their toll balance along with upcoming or overdue payments.
Those who believe they received an smsish SMS regarding tolls can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and include the phone number of the text message as well as the web link in the text.
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