The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is alerting motorists about a resurgence of a smishing scam designed to steal personal financial information by posing as toll service communications.
This week, the commission has reiterated its warning this week about a scam’s attempt to steal money.
The fraudulent texts about outstanding toll balances appear to originate from “Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Services” and demand urgent payment of supposedly overdue toll charges. The messages say payment must be made to avoid further penalties.
Similar fraudulent schemes have recently surfaced across the nation and targeted customers of various toll agencies with deceptive messages designed to elicit sensitive information, officials said.
Turnpike officials advised the public to ignore unsolicited texts, emails, or messages claiming to be from the Pennsylvania Turnpike or any toll agency.
Instead, E-ZPass account holders and Toll-By-Plate customers are encouraged to manage their accounts using official channels.
Safe options include the official PA Turnpike E-ZPass website and the PA Toll Pay mobile app, which is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Victims of these fraudulent texts are urged to report their experiences to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, a centralized website that aids in the coordination of internet crime investigations across law enforcement agencies.
For additional tips on protecting oneself from scams, the public can visit the Security and Fraud section on the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s official website.
