(WNDU) – Have you been getting texts about Toll Road fees? If so, you’re not alone.
The scam has become a nationwide phenomenon, and even troopers with Indiana State Police have gotten these scam texts.
Police say scammers are trying to get money by notifying people they have “unpaid toll road fees.” One tactic they use is fear mongering.
“A lot of times, scams are going to use fear and urgency,” explains Sgt. Ted Bohner with the Indiana State Police. “In this particular one, it talks about to avoid late fees. We all want to avoid all unnecessary fees, am I right? And then to take care of it like right now, so pay it within 12 hours.”
That sense of urgency is a tell-tale sign that it’s a scam. But more importantly, if you are not an account holder, the Toll Road will not text you. And across the state of Indiana, the Toll Road will not reach out to you via text at all.
“The intent is to take your money and/or your identity,” Sgt. Bohner says. “And this has been a scam that’s been going nationwide for probably well over a year now. And it just goes in cycles, which to me tells me one thing: that it’s successful.”
There are some signs that a text from frankly anyone is a scam. These scam text red flags include:
- Sense of urgency
- Unknown numbers
- Requests for personal information or money
- Website listed within the text
If you do receive these texts, there is a way to report the scam. Here’s what to do:
- Log into your Toll Road account to check
- File a report about Indiana Toll Road through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
- If you think your information has been compromised through phishing texts, go to identitytheft.gov
- Contact your bank to report the incident or cancel your card
Since this is a nationwide issue, sometimes those Toll Road notifications will even come from other states or areas. Make sure to look out for those tell-tale signs when it comes to any phishing scam.
If you see any of these suspicious/phishing texts at all you can file a complaint to reportfraud.FTC.gov.
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