The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has issued an urgent alert regarding a smishing scam targeting toll users. The scam involves fraudulent text messages that claim to represent tolling agencies from across the country, requesting payment for supposed unpaid tolls.
According to MassDOT, these messages attempt to deceive recipients into providing sensitive financial information by directing them to a fraudulent website. MassDOT advises the public to exercise caution and avoid clicking on links within these messages, as the scammers aim to collect credit card numbers and other personal details under false pretenses.
Officials noted that the targeted phone numbers appear to be selected at random, with no direct link to any specific toll account or usage of toll roads. MassDOT stressed that customers receiving such messages should not engage with the content, particularly those claiming to be from EZDriveMA or similar tolling services.
MassDOT has clarified that legitimate communications from EZDriveMA will never include requests for payment via text message, nor will they send invoices in this manner. All official links related to EZDriveMA will feature the domain EZDriveMA.com, ensuring authenticity.
This smishing scheme is part of a broader pattern of fraudulent activity identified by the FBI. The agency advises recipients of such messages to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, detailing the phone number and website included in the scam. Additionally, MassDOT encourages customers to verify their account status through the official toll service website and to contact customer service if there are any concerns.
