States Affected by the Scam

The Kansas Turnpike Authority is among those affected, with director Rachel Bell highlighting that local residents are being targeted with fake messages from “Kansas Toll Services” demanding settlement for unpaid dues. “The Kansas Turnpike does not send text messages for toll payment,” Bell emphasized. Echoing this sentiment, over 2,000 complaints regarding such scams have been recorded by the FBI across multiple states, prompting authorities to issue public alerts. The messages often include links to spoofed websites where users are coerced into making unnecessary payments.

Example of a Scam Message

A typical scam message reads:

“(State Toll Service Name): We’ve noticed an outstanding toll amount of $12.51 on your record. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, visit https://myturnpiketollservices.com to settle your balance.”

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message

If you encounter a suspicious text about toll payments, it’s crucial to take the following steps:

• Verify your account through the official toll service website.

• Contact the toll operator’s customer service for assistance.

• Delete any dubious messages immediately.

• Secure your accounts and monitor them for any unauthorized activity if you’ve engaged with a fraudulent link.

Additionally, the FBI encourages victims to report these incidents to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, noting the source phone number and any suspected fraudulent web addresses.

Awareness and Precautionary Measures

Following the FBI’s alert, the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) notified toll operators in six states, including Texas and Florida, about similar smishing threats. In New Jersey, for instance, a fraudulent message read:

“NJ Turnpike toll services: We’ve noticed an outstanding toll amount of $13.34 on your record. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, visit https://njtollservices.com to settle your balance.”

Additionally, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has cautioned individuals about fraudulent texts regarding tolls and listed websites to watch for, such as:

• sunpass-service.com

• sunpass-help.com

• and several others.

“Scammers craft these messages with links designed to steal consumers’ personal and financial information,” Nessel stated.

Ongoing Efforts Against Scamming Activities

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has launched initiatives to shut down numerous fraudulent websites masquerading as official toll collection platforms. North Carolina’s Attorney General Josh Stein has similarly alerted residents about deceitful robo-texts impersonating toll road services. Toll operators remain vigilant, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike also warning about texts falsely attributed to “Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Services.”

Source: Transport Topics

The post Escalating Smishing Scams Targeting Toll Operators appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Since early March, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received over 2,000 complaints regarding fraudulent text messages, a tactic known as smishing, supposedly representing toll collection services in at least three states.

Smishing involves the use of deceptive text messages to manipulate individuals into downloading malware, divulging sensitive information, or sending money to cybercriminals.

Information from IC3 complaints suggests that this scam may be spreading across state lines. The text messages typically allege unpaid toll fees and utilize nearly identical language across multiple complaints.

While the claimed “outstanding toll amount” remains consistent, the links provided within the messages mimic the names of state toll services, and the associated phone numbers vary between states. A typical example of these smishing texts is as follows:

(State Toll Service Name): We have identified an outstanding toll amount of $12.51 linked to your account. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, please visit https://myturnpiketollservices.com to settle your balance.

If you receive such a text, the FBI advises taking the following steps:

• File a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov. Include the phone number from which the text originated and the website mentioned in the message.
• Verify your account status through the legitimate website of the toll service in question.
• Contact the customer service phone number provided by the toll service.
• Delete any smishing texts you receive.
• If you click on any links or share your information, take measures to safeguard your personal and financial data. Challenge any unauthorized charges that appear.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

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