This is so rampant that the FBI, FCC and toll road authorities are warning people about them.
The scam works like this.
You get a text message (I got one the other day from a phone number in South America. Are the toll road authorities located in Chili?) that says that you have past due toll charges and if you don’t click on the link and pay now you will face additional charges and legal actions.
The text message is designed to scare it and it works – at least for some people.
Here is a sample text:
This is one case where you SHOULD report. Note Verizon’s message at the top offering the option to report it as a scam. You can and should report it.
Also notice that this is a group chat, sent to you and seven others. That doesn’t even make sense for unpaid tolls.
You do NOT want to respond to the spammer at all or click on any links. That just gives them an opening to rope you in and infect your device.
The FCC has a list of recommended actions, which I am copying below:
- Do Not Engage with the Texter. Do not reply to the message, including pushing a button or responding “Y” or “N.”
- Do Not Click any links embedded in the text.
- Find Out if the Text Message Is Legitimate. Call a customer service number or log into your account to check for any valid violations or unpaid tolls. If your account is in order, report the scam text to your toll company.
- If the text claims to be from a toll company operating in a different state, independently find a customer service phone number online and call before sending any money or providing personal information.
- Block the Number. Consider blocking the sender’s number to prevent future scam attempts.
- Report the Scam to Law Enforcement. If you suspect a text message is a scam, report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
- Do Not Share Your Info. Never share personally identifiable information or financial information in response to unsolicited or suspicious messages.
- Don’t Be Bullied. Any request that you receive urging immediate action can lead to a rushed response that may be unwise.
- File a Complaint with the FCC. Your information helps to inform FCC enforcement and policy efforts, and helps us raise public awareness of these scams.
The entire FCC notice can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-governmental-affairs/how-spot-and-avoid-toll-road-payment-scam-texts .
Bottom line is that you should proceed with EXTREME caution.
Here is another alert; this time from the California DMV – https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-warns-of-fraudulent-text-scam-asking-for-toll-payments/
Stay Safe!