DRIVERS have been warned about urgent face toll notices claiming they have unpaid balances.
The texts also tell drivers that unpaid balances will result in additional fees.
Drivers have been warned about fake toll road fine texts[/caption]
Scam messages have been sent to drivers in Maine[/caption]
Scam texts have been sent out to drivers in Maine.
One message sent to a driver claimed they had an outstanding charge of $19.15.
It also claimed they would face a late fee of $57.45 if they didn’t pay up.
The message directed them to a fake website to pay.
The payment website is convincing but fake, encouraging drivers to enter their banking and personal information.
With that personal information, scammers can steal someone’s identity or gain access to funds.
They have been sent out to customers using Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) roads.
The MTA has warned that the messages are not legitimate.
It also said that it doesn’t send out text messages to collect payments for E-ZPASS bills.
Similar scams have been reported in other states but this is the first of its kind in Maine.
In April, similar “toll balance” text scams were reported across the Eastern United States.
Philadelphia drivers reported to Fox affiliate WTXF-TV that they were getting the phishing texts, too.
Fighting incorrect toll violations
A legal expert says a toll violation notice can be disputed with a few simple steps.
- Double-check the name and license plate number. Violations are finalized by a technician before they’re mailed, and sometimes a simple mistake can be made. If the matter is as simple as someone misreading the plate due to a grainy photo, the matter can be resolved by calling the toll agency.
- If the license plate is correct but the car is no longer registered to you, you can dispute it by contacting your state’s transportation agency (ie. DMV) to provide proof the vehicle is no longer yours.
- If the violation claims it was issued due to a missing account and you indeed have an active account, the violation can usually be disputed on the toll agency’s website. If not, calling is an option.
- Dispute the notice promptly. Many toll agencies will impose a short time limit that drivers can dispute a notice, so it’s important to do so quickly to avoid late fees.
- Be clear when submitting a dispute online. The more details included, the easier it is to have the matter resolved.
- If necessary, drivers can submit a hearing to dispute the charge.
Read more here.
E-ZPass warns drivers that they will never alert drivers to an overdue balance via text message, and if the fake text is received, to delete it and report it to the FBI‘s Internet Crime division.
Anyone who believes they have been scammed can call the E-ZPASS Customer Service Center between 8 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday.
If drivers receive a message they are unsure about, they can check their account online at ezpassmaineturnpike.com.
With so many people calling and visiting the E-ZPASS Customer Service Center asking about the scam, drivers have been warned that the wait time to speak to someone can often be over an hour.
Alternatively, drivers can file a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov, including the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the text in the complaint.
The U.S. Sun has approached the MTA for comment.
