Have you received a text lately accusing you of owing unpaid toll bills? Beware: texts are part of the latest “smishing” scam, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
The texts say that the recipient owes money for EZ pass tolls and include a link to copy paste into a browser to “settle” the bill before incurring late fees. The texts claim to be representing the tolling agency EZDriveMA.
“The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with an account or usage of toll roads,” MassDOT said in a press release. They said that EZDriveMA will never request payment by text and that all links associated with EZDriveMA will include www.EZDriveMA.com.
“Smishing” is a form of “phishing” that uses text messages pretending to be from legitimate companies in an attempt to steal personal or financial information like passwords or credit card numbers from recipients. The word is a mash up of “SMS,” which stands for short message service, and phishing.
More:The latest ‘smishing’ scam came to my phone. How you can spot it and protect yourself
This smishing scam is part of a series of smishing scams that the FBI has been aware of since early-March 2024.
In November, New Hampshire and Rhode Island residents received similar messages. 
On Nov. 19, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation warned residents about texts appearing to be from “NH- Pass” that requested individuals to click on a link to settle unpaid toll balances. NHDOT said that NH E-ZPass “will never send text messages requesting payment for tolls with late fees.”
A week later, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority said that customers received a similar scam that told Rhode Island residents they had an unpaid toll from a road in Kansas.
If you receive an unsolicited text, MassDOT says you should not click on the link. 
The FBI recommends that you file a complaint with the IC3, including the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed in the text. Then, check your account using the toll service’s legitimate website and contact the toll service’s customer service phone number. You should also delete any smishing texts received.
If you do click on the link or provide your information, the FBI recommends that you secure your personal information and financial accounts as well as dispute any unfamiliar charges.

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