FLORIDA—Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Florida drivers about a scam targeting motorists with fraudulent claims of unpaid toll fees.
On Wednesday, Ms Moody issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about the new smishing scam. The Federal Bureau of Investigation raised a red flag about the scheme, reporting that scammers are sending fraudulent text messages nationwide to individuals claiming unpaid toll fees and providing links to settle the alleged debts.
However, these links are said to be malicious and designed to steal victims’ money. The scams are also reportedly targeting E-ZPass users.
“Cybercriminals are sending text messages to thousands of unsuspecting drivers in the hopes that some of them will be tricked into paying a toll fee for a violation that never occurred,” said Ms Moody.
Hundreds of drivers in Florida may have been targeted, said Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard. Florida has more toll roads than any other state—more than 700 miles.
The Attorney General (AG) said her Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit, working with the FDLE, recently shut down 10 imposter websites.
“While this smishing scam is happening across the nation, our Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit worked closely with FDLE to shut down 10 fraudulent sites designed to mimic the official SunPass website and steal payments from drivers who received their fake text messages,” the AG said.
While the authentic Sun Pass web address is SunPass.com, the smishing messages reportedly direct drivers to fraudulent URLs set up to mimic the official site, such as sunpass-service.com and sunpass-help.com.
AG Moody offers the following tips to Floridians to avoid toll smishing scams:
Avoid Clicking Links: Refrain from clicking on any links provided in unsolicited messages, especially those claiming to be from SunPass, E-ZPass or FDOT
Verify the Source: Independently confirm the information by contacting FDOT or SunPass using contact information found on an official organization’s website
Check Account Status: Regularly check an online toll account to add an extra layer of protection
Protect Personal Information: Do not provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages, emails, or phone calls
Register Phone Number with Do Not Call List: To help block robocalls and spam text messages, register phone numbers at DoNotCall.gov
Floridians can file complaints on FDLE’s Report a Cybercrime webpage to report suspicious activity related to SunPass or E-ZPass.
