With 36 million accounts and 53 million vehicle tags, E-ZPass may be the largest toll collection system in the U.S. Drivers use it in 19 states, to the tune of $15 billion in tolls rung up each year. You probably hate tolls, and here’s a darker side. The E-ZPass scam is out to get you.
E-ZPass scam wants your financial info
The E-ZPass Group is issuing an alert to all E-ZPass customers about a text messaging scam targeted at customers of tolling agencies across the United States. The scam aims to deceive customers into entering their personal data and financial information to a fake website.
Customers receiving text messages claiming to be sent by “E-ZPass Toll Services” that directs them to click a link to pay an outstanding toll balance to avoid a late fee should be aware that this message is fraudulent. The toll account information provided in these texts is neither valid nor accurate.
Got one? Here’s what to do
If you got a text like this, you may be a victim of the E-ZPass scam. E-ZPass warns you to delete the texts immediately and not to click on any links embedded in the text messages. Customers who have clicked the link and completed the form should immediately contact their financial institution and notify E-ZPass of any erroneous information posted to their accounts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently issued a public service announcement warning the public about a wave of fraudulent SMS texts attempting to scam toll road users. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received more than 2,000 complaints reporting fraudulent texts representing road toll collection service from at least three states. The complaint information indicates that the scam appears to be moving from state to state.
The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and contain almost identical language. The “outstanding toll amount” has been similar among the complaints reported to the IC3. However, the link provided within the text is created to impersonate the state’s toll service name, and phone numbers appear to change among states. E-ZPass says that if you receive one of these texts, file a complaint with the IC3.
“Scam attacks through emails and text messaging are on the rise in our country and protecting the safety of E-ZPass customer information is of paramount importance to us,” stated PJ Wilkins, E-ZPass Group Executive Director. “We will continue to work with our partnering states to alert our customers of any criminal activity that places them at risk, and we encourage E-ZPass customers to be vigilant in ensuring that their personal and financial information is not compromised by falling prey to these fraudulent schemes.”
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It’s not just EZ Pass. I got the text which was supposedly from the Minnisota Toll System…idiots couldn’t even spell Minnesota correctly!!!
I saw in an article, at the time, to report it on the FBI website, so I tried. But, since I wasn’t suckered in and had no damages, it wouldn’t take my submission. Whatever.
Like most all scams, this one was easy to spot and avoid. Net is: NEVER react directly to a text or email! If you think something like this might be real, NEVER click the link. Get out and go directly to the real trusted website of your account.
Thank you for the heads up and warning, Russ and Tina, it’s very much appreciated!
I’ve been getting emails that have no subject line from unknown email addresses. Also, emails from Sirius saying my account will be closed unless I respond immediately.
I don’t have and never have subscribed to Sirius.
Also, if you read the senders email domain, you will see most are Gmail accounts.
I agree, do not open the email. When you do, the sender has your return email address.
Most of these are computer generated to thousands of email addresses. Same as scam phone calls. Delete without clicking on the email.
It’s the same with the texts. Computers are dialing and sending the texts, hoping someone will go to the link supplied. Delete the text immediately.
I’ve been getting a lot of the same “no subject” emails. I send them to spam then delete. But it does seem odd that it is happening all of a sudden in the last month.
Thank you, Russ and Tina!!!! 🙂 We lived in Virginia for several years and have had an EZ Pass for 25, 30 years. I do not recall getting one of the described text messages. I certainly will do as requested if one arrives. Verizon seems pretty good at intercepting such messages, so perhaps one was sent but never delivered to me. I’ll let DW know as well. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
I received the same type of message from Sunpass, the Florida toll system. I recognized it as a scam brcause I didn’t drive on a Florida toll road this year.
We did as well in the past week. I knew it was a scam right away as it went to my DW phone; also we are on auto-replenish so I knew this was a scam.
Cyber security (warfare), is the new battlefield. As such; more serious penalties need to be to imposed upon the perpetrators, up to, and including missile and drone strikes. I’m sure there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that the average person is unaware of, but just once I would like to hear a news report of the neutralization of a major internet terrorist organization, whether it be state sponsored, foreign, or domestic.
Your friendly Moderate Extremist.
Really hate your ads that start Blaring when trying to close at 5:00 in the morning!
I can usually recognize a scam now but I can never remember who I am supposed to report it to. So I usually start with the local police.
Had the scam message the other day. since we were traveling, I immediately went to my E-Z pass account to verify it was indeed a scam. Deleted it!
This has been going on for years and nothing is ever done about it. The fibbies are probably in on it.
I had a problem with EZPASS but not as you describe. But in early Nov I got a notification that my EZPASS was being charged for a toll in Miami on the Causeway. I wrote to them, told them my EZPASS was in my house and that my Honda Scooter was not in Miami then, in fact never was there. And I asked them to show me the photo that was supposedly my license plate. I fought with them for a couple weeks. They finally reversed the toll, but never provided the photo which I think is total horse hockey. If they’re gonna say their tolling you from a photo capture, they darn well better provide the photo.
Hi, John. That kinda reminds me of what my son (who lives next door) went through with our local sheriff’s office a month ago. His renter’s fairly new wheels that were stacked by his driveway were stolen and Sean got it all on very clear video. He phoned the sheriff’s office and reported it and the gal he was talking to said he had to have witnessed it “in person.” What?!!! Isn’t an actual video of the act more reliable than taking someone’s word for it? He questioned her about that a couple of times and she said the same thing–had to witness it in person. Finally, she responded, “Well, I’ll have to check with my supervisor.” OMG!😖 His roommate left three calls on their voicemail, over several days, and hasn’t heard back. He finally just gave up. He mentioned that he would have sold them to the guy cheap, or even given them to him if he needed them that badly. We know where the guy who did it lives (a couple of blocks away), and he was prowling around the neighborhood again a couple of nights ago. He’ll just keep doing it if the sheriff won’t even take the report and do something about it. Anyway, sorry for the long story. I’m glad you got the toll reversed. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Pays to be very careful!
Along with the “other” 100’s of scams. The federal trade commission had imposed rules against being taken off emailing lists. But appears to me every time I try to unsubscribe from a particular unwanted email I get even more emails from pill companies, anti-aging medicines, joint pain mumbo-jumbo…..
I recently used Ez Pass in multiple states the last month, and everything seemed fine. The only issue was knowing “which” toll roads were actually part of it. In some states certain toll roads in their state were part of EZ Pass and others were not.
West Virginia was a little confusing as a 1/2 mile out it said to only use the EZ Pass lanes if you have it.
Problem is, once you get to the actual toll booths, there is only “ONE” EZ Pass lane, 5 lanes with a green arrow and one cash lane. I had no idea what the green arrow lane is. Kind of a cluster 🤷🏻♂️.