New Toll Road Smishing Scam: How to Protect Yourself

The Smishing Scam Explained

• 🎯 A new smishing scam is targeting individuals by sending fake text messages about unpaid tolls or outstanding Easy Pass balances.
• 💡 The scam is deceptively simple and designed to trick people into revealing personal information and credit card details.
• ⚠️ Scammers may also attempt a multi-factor authentication bypass to gain further access.

Identifying and Avoiding the Scam

• 🔍 Experts advise paying close attention to the sender's details; illegitimate messages often come from unrecognized numbers or email addresses, even if sent via text.
• 🚫 Legitimate agencies, like the New York State Thruway Authority, will never request payment for tolls via text or email.
• ✉️ Official agencies typically have formal processes for collecting toll payments, such as by mail.

What to Do If You Receive a Scam Message

• 🗑️ If you receive a suspicious message, the advice from authorities is to simply delete it immediately without engaging.
• 🚩 Recognize red flags and do not interact with messages that seem illegitimate, whether they arrive by phone, email, or text.

Scope of the Problem

• 📊 The FBI is taking these toll smishing scams seriously, with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) receiving over 60,000 complaints related to unpaid toll scams in 2024 alone.