Beware of Toll Scam Texts in the D.C. Area

Authorities are issuing warnings to D.C.-area residents about a surge in toll scams. Individuals receive texts about supposed outstanding toll balances from bogus companies.

These messages appear credible. They might claim to be from E-Z Pass or another toll service, stating, “Final Reminder: You have an outstanding toll. Pay by March 31 to avoid extra fees or legal trouble.”

This is just the latest trick scammers are using to extract money.

The Federal Trade Commission along with various DMV offices across the country, including those in Virginia and Maryland, have released official alerts. They’re urging locals not to fall for these scams.

The FTC has provided some protective tips:

• Do not click links or reply to unexpected texts. Scammers aim for quick reactions, but it’s crucial to take a moment and verify.
• Confirm the legitimacy of the text. Contact your state’s toll agency using a known legitimate phone number or website—not information from the suspicious message.
• Report and erase unwanted texts. Utilize your phone’s “report junk” feature to notify apps, or forward it to 7726 (SPAM). Once verified and reported, delete the text.

Scammers constantly target personal information. If you’ve been duped, quickly freeze your cards if you’ve shared any card numbers.

Experts suggest it’s difficult to completely prevent scam texts. However, you can spot anomalies like spelling mistakes, clunky language, and links to unreliable websites.

The FBI advises reporting these scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Submitting the scam’s originating phone number and any links sent can help authorities and service providers combat these cyber-criminals.