• Don’t click the link on a text claiming you owe money for unpaid tolls.

Scammers are at it again with fake E-ZPass, EZDriveMa or other road toll collection service claiming you owe unpaid tolls and seeking immediate payment.

In a new warning from the FBI, scammers are moving state to state with new “smishing” or “spoofing” text messages that claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls with common phrases noted such as “outstanding toll amount.”

The “smishing” scam targets E-ZPass holders, sending them fraudulent text messages that claim to be from E-ZPass and then trick customers into clicking malicious links and/or asking for payment information.

“Phishing scams are designed to create a sense of panic, catching the receiver off guard and causing them to react before thinking,” warned DMV Director Amy Anthony. “I urge everyone to think before you click on links of any kind especially those requesting money, payment, personal information, credit card details, social security number, or anything else that could be used negatively.”

Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting ripped off.

What is smishing?

According to the FBI, the definition of smishing is a social engineering attack using fake text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information or sending money to cybercriminals. “Smishing” combines “SMS”—or “short message service,” and “phishing.” “Phishing” generally pertains to attacks on the internet, email, or websites.

What is spoofing?

Spoofing is when someone disguises an email address, sender name, phone number, or website URL — often just by just changing one letter, or a symbol, or a number — to convince you that you are interacting with a trusted source, but makes it seem otherwise familiar to the recipient.

What is the E-ZPass scam?

Scammers are targeting E-ZPass users nationwide with a simple con designed to snatch your account credentials.

You get a text message that looks like it’s from E-ZPass toll system, that says you owe money for tolls and need to pay immediately. 

The messages claims that the account is expired and asks customers to click on a link to make the payment or demanding small amounts like $3.95 to $12.55 in unpaid tolls or to avoid higher late fees. That’s part of the effectiveness of the scam, because it’s such a minor amount that most people wouldn’t question it.

But, they’re not after the small fine; they want your identity.

The official-looking link is fake and will direct you to a site where scammers will pull down your personal and financial information.

Here’s the deal: E-ZPass doesn’t text you for payment. Ever.

So, if you get one of these texts, don’t click the link; simply delete it, tell your friends to do the same if they get one and move on.

If you’re concerned that you might owe money to E-ZPass, use your normal process for checking your account.

If you already fell for it — it happens — you’ll want to call your bank and credit card companies to freeze or monitor your accounts.

You should also immediately change your passwords for E-ZPass, your bank accounts and credit card logins.

Then, keep an eye out for any odd charges and know how to dispute them.

Anyone who receives a suspicious text or email can file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), ic3.gov. When filing, include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the text.

Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.