Have you recently gotten a text saying you did not pay an outstanding traffic ticket yet you have no memory of it? Be wary of such a text because it is probably a scam. Read on for advice on how not to fall for such texts.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is warning drivers about a recent text message scam targeting Floridians. The scam claims the recipient has an unpaid traffic ticket and threatens to suspend their driver license and vehicle registration if payment is not made immediately through a fraudulent link. Various reports have been received throughout the state, therefore the extent of the scam is not known. If you receive a similar text message, remember that FLHSMV will never contact you via text to demand payment or threaten suspension or arrest. Do not click any links or share personal or financial information. FLHSMV asks that you immediately report any such text message to local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reported on a similar scam, after having received consumer complaints about imposters sending fraudulent text messages claiming to be from one of several legitimate toll payment companies. The scam texts states that the recipient has an unpaid toll or owes a balance on their account, which will be suspended if immediate payment is not made.
The sender’s number may be spoofed to look like it’s from a toll company.
The scam text will likely include a link and ask you to click the link to pay immediately or verify your information. The link appears to be an official website but is actually a phishing site designed to fool you.
Scam messages often ask you to pay through non-standard methods such as gift cards or wire transfers, which is almost always a dead giveaway that it’s an imposter scam. Other clues:
▪ The sender’s number may be an international number.
▪ There may be other phone numbers included as recipients.
Scam messages may also use generic greetings such as “Dear Customer” or “E-ZPass user,” rather than addressing you by name. E-ZPass typically uses the name on the account in a greeting.
Toll operators typically don’t use text messages to collect on overdue accounts, and do not use threatening language to rush customers into action.
What you should do if you receive one of these messages:
▪ Do Not Engage with the Texter. Do not reply to the message, including pushing a button or responding “Y” or “N.”
▪ Do Not Click any links embedded in the text.
▪ Find Out if the Text Message Is Legitimate. Call a customer service number or log into your account to check for any valid violations or unpaid tolls. If your account is in order, report the scam text to your toll company.
▪ If the text claims to be from a toll company operating in a different state, independently find a customer service phone number online and call before sending any money or providing personal information.
▪ Block the Number. Consider blocking the sender’s number to prevent future scam attempts.
▪ Report the Scam to Law Enforcement. If you suspect a text message is a scam, report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at http://www.ic3.gov.
▪ Do Not Share Your Info. Never share personally identifiable information or financial information in response to unsolicited or suspicious messages.
▪ Don’t Be Bullied. Any request that you receive urging immediate action can lead to a rushed response that may be unwise.
▪ File a Complaint with the FCC. Your information helps to inform FCC enforcement and policy efforts and helps us raise public awareness of these scams.
