Concerning the Messages & Easy methods to Spot Them – Hollywood Life

As Individuals grapple with troublesome costs, a monetary rip-off has arose for numerous drivers — false toll highway textual content messages. In latest months, a number of retailers and social media customers have reported receiving rip-off notifications on their telephones, claiming to be toll expenses.

Per CBS News, the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) warned the nation that texts they’re receiving over supposed unpaid tolls are “in all probability” scams.

“Whether or not you’ve pushed by means of a toll lately or not, you would possibly’ve gotten a textual content saying you owe cash for unpaid tolls. It’s in all probability a rip-off,” the FTC famous in its alert. “Scammers are pretending to be tolling businesses from coast to coast and sending texts demanding cash. Not solely is the scammer making an attempt to steal your cash, however in case you click on the hyperlink, they may get your private data (like your driver’s license quantity) — and even steal your identification.”

Preserve studying to study extra in regards to the rip-off messages and what to do in case you obtain one.

What Do Actual Roll Highway Notifications Look Like?

E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail don’t notify drivers of unpaid tolls by way of textual content message requesting private info, resembling bank card or Social Safety numbers. If you happen to obtain a textual content or an e mail asking for personally identifiable particulars, you shouldn’t present that info.

What Do the Roll Highway Rip-off Texts Look Like?

The rip-off texts range in look, however New York, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Florida, Indianapolis, Pennsylvania and different states have reported drivers receiving messages claiming that they owed toll charges. In keeping with USAToday, which reported that a few of its employees acquired these texts as effectively, one of many messages folks have acquired learn, “Pay your FastTrak Lane tolls by February 13, 2025. To keep away from a tremendous and hold your license, you may pay at https://ezdrivema.com-xlk.vip/i/. (Please reply Y, then exit the textual content message and open it once more to activate the hyperlink, or copy the hyperlink into your Safari browser and open it).”

One other message that some Florida residents acquired learn, “Please pay your toll in Florida by January 21, 2025. With a purpose to keep away from extreme late charges and potential authorized motion on statements, please pay your tolls in time. Thanks in your cooperation and want you a nice vacation. https://sunpass.com-8If5.sbs/us/,” in response to the outlet.

Can I Block the Toll Highway Scams?

Individuals can block any cellphone quantity that reaches out to their cellphone. The FTC introduced that Individuals ought to do the next in the event that they receiving these scams:

• Don’t click on the hyperlink within the rip-off textual content; go to the precise toll service web site to verify an account’s steadiness
• Use a smartphone’s “report junk” characteristic upon receiving one in every of these texts
• If you happen to do click on the hyperlink in one in every of these rip-off messages, safe all your private info as quickly as attainable, together with financial institution accounts
• File a criticism with the FBI’s Web Crime Criticism Heart and embody the rip-off textual content’s cellphone quantity and the web site connected within the textual content