Agencies warn of turnpike toll scams

[wanderer2575]

As the summer vacation season kicks off later this month, drivers might want to be on high alert for yet another travel-related scam, which oddly enough, relates to toll roads.  It's a scam that is heating up already this spring.

What do you do if you get a text that purports to be a message from a state toll road collection system?  And it says you owe roughly $12 now in toll fees but you must pay it immediately to avoid a $50 late penalty?  You might even be given options to Click Here to quickly pay that lingering toll with a credit card or bank transfer.

Best bet:  Don't do it.  Ignore the fake text.

All sorts of consumer watchdogs, toll road systems, and law enforcement authorities are warning about an uptick in a turnpike scam.  Consumers who are spotting these texts say they look fairly legitimate, somehow suggesting a new way of addressing toll charges.  But it's a scam.

Detroit Free Press article:  No, you did not just get a real text to pay unpaid tolls.  It's a scam.

[GaryV]

This is important enough to report in Michigan, where at least 99% of drivers don't go on any toll road during any given month of the year?

[epzik8]

This is important enough to report in Michigan, where at least 99% of drivers don't go on any toll road during any given month of the year?

A lot of those folks imaginably go on road trips that involve usage of the toll roads in Ohio/Indiana/Illinois/etc.

[jeffandnicole]

This scam is basically just being sent to random emails or text numbers in all 50 states. But newspapers, and the media in general, like to "localize" their reporting to make it appear it's only happening to people in their own state or area.

[GaryV]

This is important enough to report in Michigan, where at least 99% of drivers don't go on any toll road during any given month of the year?

A lot of those folks imaginably go on road trips that involve usage of the toll roads in Ohio/Indiana/Illinois/etc.

Sure they do from time to time, but it's a rare enough occurrence that they would remember doing so. A dunning text showing up would be known to be wrong.

[Life in Paradise]

I received one of these texts a couple of weeks ago within 10 days of making a quick two way trip from SW Indiana to Cincinnati taking the (is it I-265 or not) loop across the Ohio River at Louisville.  I never responded, but thought it was strange that I was getting a text, since I had my Ez-Pass unit in my windshield.  I did look it up and determine it was a scam, but it was just a bit too convenient in timing.

[wanderer2575]

This is important enough to report in Michigan, where at least 99% of drivers don't go on any toll road during any given month of the year?

A lot of those folks imaginably go on road trips that involve usage of the toll roads in Ohio/Indiana/Illinois/etc.

Sure they do from time to time, but it's a rare enough occurrence that they would remember doing so. A dunning text showing up would be known to be wrong.

If they bother to look into it, and that's a big "if."  Especially since it's a fairly low amount, and those using an E-ZPass aren't given a toll ticket showing upfront what the toll amount should be.

[Big John]

Just got a scam text claiming to be from SunPass. Blocked address. Another sign was it was a text originating from an email address. I have never received a legitimate text by this method.

[ilpt4u]

Just got a scam text claiming to be from SunPass. Blocked address. Another sign was it was a text originating from an email address. I have never received a legitimate text by this method.

I have.

Had a boss that used that method to contact his employees...send a mass email in Outlook to his employees and use the cell number@Carrier domain so the employees get it as a text

[epzik8]

Just got a scam text claiming to be from SunPass. Blocked address. Another sign was it was a text originating from an email address. I have never received a legitimate text by this method.

I have.

Had a boss that used that method to contact his employees...send a mass email in Outlook to his employees and use the cell number@Carrier domain so the employees get it as a text

I learned something new about technology today

[texaskdog]

Every toll road down here is a scam.  If you don't pay a $1 toll they'll lop a $20 fee on it every month until paid.  And they frequently send to the wrong address and still blame you. 

[vdeane]

And they frequently send to the wrong address and still blame you. 

This right here is why I don't do bill by mail.

[Daisy Rahman]

In general, when traveling these days, it's really helpful to simply have a list of the services and apps you need in advance. This way, there's much less stress and more time to just enjoy the road.

[Removed spam link. -S.]

[Rothman]

As the summer vacation season kicks off later this month, drivers might want to be on high alert for yet another travel-related scam, which oddly enough, relates to toll roads.  It's a scam that is heating up already this spring.

What do you do if you get a text that purports to be a message from a state toll road collection system?  And it says you owe roughly $12 now in toll fees but you must pay it immediately to avoid a $50 late penalty?  You might even be given options to Click Here to quickly pay that lingering toll with a credit card or bank transfer.

Best bet:  Don't do it.  Ignore the fake text.

All sorts of consumer watchdogs, toll road systems, and law enforcement authorities are warning about an uptick in a turnpike scam.  Consumers who are spotting these texts say they look fairly legitimate, somehow suggesting a new way of addressing toll charges.  But it's a scam.

Detroit Free Press article:  No, you did not just get a real text to pay unpaid tolls.  It's a scam.

In general, when traveling these days, it's really helpful to simply have a list of the services and apps you need in advance. This way, there's much less stress and more time to just enjoy the road.

Of course, in the good old days, all you had to do was carry some change and cash.

Without interoperability, the whole situation with toll roads in America is pretty ridiculous.

[vdeane]

As the summer vacation season kicks off later this month, drivers might want to be on high alert for yet another travel-related scam, which oddly enough, relates to toll roads.  It's a scam that is heating up already this spring.

What do you do if you get a text that purports to be a message from a state toll road collection system?  And it says you owe roughly $12 now in toll fees but you must pay it immediately to avoid a $50 late penalty?  You might even be given options to Click Here to quickly pay that lingering toll with a credit card or bank transfer.

Best bet:  Don't do it.  Ignore the fake text.

All sorts of consumer watchdogs, toll road systems, and law enforcement authorities are warning about an uptick in a turnpike scam.  Consumers who are spotting these texts say they look fairly legitimate, somehow suggesting a new way of addressing toll charges.  But it's a scam.

Detroit Free Press article:  No, you did not just get a real text to pay unpaid tolls.  It's a scam.

In general, when traveling these days, it's really helpful to simply have a list of the services and apps you need in advance. This way, there's much less stress and more time to just enjoy the road.

You shouldn't need apps to drive.

Without interoperability, the whole situation with toll roads in America is pretty ridiculous.

Even with interoperability, it still is.  There was a day when the toll was the toll was the toll.  Outside of stuff like commuter tokens, everyone who had the same type of vehicle paid the exact same rate.

[kphoger]

You shouldn't need apps to drive.

Truer words have ne'er been spoken.

[hbelkins]

Just got a scam text claiming to be from SunPass. Blocked address. Another sign was it was a text originating from an email address. I have never received a legitimate text by this method.

I have.

Had a boss that used that method to contact his employees...send a mass email in Outlook to his employees and use the cell number@Carrier domain so the employees get it as a text

I learned something new about technology today

number@mms.att.net. Even I knew that, being the old dinosaur I am.

Now to try it and see if it still works.

[kphoger]

I still text my own e-mail address every so often.  It's a nice way to send a picture from my phone to my desktop computer.  It's also how I can open a link that's texted to my dumbphone.

But it's been a while since I've e-mailed my phone number.  I'm on Verizon Wireless, and they discontinued @vtext.com and @vzwpix.com a year or two ago.  I just tested the former out a minute ago, and nothing ever came through on my phone.

[hbelkins]

I tried emailing my phone at number@mms.att.net, number@txt.att.net, and number@att.net. None of those three worked; I got bounces back to my email on all three addresses.

I'm not sure how to email myself via text, but since I have a smartphone, it's not necessary. I can email myself from Outlook (work) or Gmail (personal) if necessary.

[kphoger]

I tried emailing my phone at number@mms.att.net, number@txt.att.net, and number@att.net. None of those three worked; I got bounces back to my email on all three addresses.

Yes, it appears AT&T also nixed that service last year too.

I'm not sure how to email myself via text

It's really easy.  Just send a text message as usual but, instead of a phone number, type your e-mail address as the recipient.  (Check your junk folder when you look in your e-mail inbox.)

[ElishaGOtis]

On a similar note, I just got a letter from Metro FasTrak in the mail saying my email address was inaccessible. While I do have an account with them, I got a confirmation email when I first made the account in July...

This a scam or a hack?

[CoreySamson]

I've gotten text scams claiming to be from the NTTA Toll Tag. Thing is, I don't have a Texas toll tag. I have a Pikepass, so that made it really easy to spot it as a scam.

[kphoger]

On a similar note, I just got a letter from Metro FasTrak in the mail saying my email address was inaccessible. While I do have an account with them, I got a confirmation email when I first made the account in July...

This a scam or a hack?

The answer is always to just call the place directly.