Turnpike text scam occurances increasing
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — A warning from law enforcement regarding a text scam that 28/22 News has been tracking. It involves text messages that are supposedly sent by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Those who receive them are told they owe overdue tolls and face serious legal penalties if they don't immediately pay up.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials tell the I-Team the texts are becoming more threatening and the number of those texts being sent to Pennsylvanians is also increasing in a bigtime way. They are urging people not to fall for the scam.
'Different versions of the scam now that are really attempting to leverage fear to trick people into giving their personal and financial information,' Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Press Secretary Marissa Orbanek said.
So they can access and steal your money. The scam surfaced last April and Turnpike Commission officials say it has intensified in recent weeks.
The text indicates that a person has unpaid tolls and if they are not paid immediately.
That person could face increased legal fees and possibly lose their driver's license. A link is provided in the text for people to make a payment.
28/22 News spoke recently with a Luzerne County woman who received scam texts and didn't know why she was getting them.
'I don't leave the area, so I know I don't have any tolls,' said Sweet Valley resident Gina Traver.
'I think AI is making it easier for cybercriminals to really make their texts and their message more sophisticated text, so I think it looks authentic,' Orbanek explained.
Setback delays Lackawanna County commissioner replacement process
'Does the Turnpike Commission send texts if you are in arrears of fines?' 28/22 News I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick asked.
'The Turnpike Commission nor any of our partners will text you with a direct link to pay a toll or fine that is not something we do. We do not text,' Orbanek stated.
Turnpike officials say if you receive a scam text. do not respond, do not click on the link, and report the text to the FBI and local law enforcement.
Also, if you are not sure if you owe unpaid tolls, contact the Turnpike Commission directly.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Underage drinking dangers during graduation season
LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – It's graduation season for colleges and high schools, and that normally means graduation parties. Springfield man charged with DUI, wrong-way driving in Enfield While they are a celebration, they can also be dangerous when it comes to underage drinking. The Longmeadow Close Community Coalition has placed lawn signs around the high school to remind students and parents of the dangers of underage drinking. The coalition of Longmeadow for a drug-free community, or the close community, has placed lawn signs around the town, hoping to remind parents and teenagers of underage drinking. Ananda Lennox, Director of Close Community Coalition, told 22News, 'Across the nation, there is always a handful or sometimes more of teen deaths that happen around prom and graduation season. And it almost always inevitably involves alcohol and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.' Aside from the dangers of drinking and driving, there is also a law in place in 32 states, including Massachusetts, that holds a social host liable if something happens. James Winston, a Northampton Attorney, adds, 'It can be an adult or a minor who is in control of the premises who either furnishes directly or allows alcohol to be consumed on the premises.' But premises doesn't just mean a house or apartment, it can include a hotel room, a rented room in a restaurant, or a boat. Social hosts can face civil and or criminal charges. 'The consequences can be quite dire both civilly, where we see judgments for millions of dollars, and criminally, where up to a year in prison, pay a $2,000 fine, or both,' Winston adds. The coalition also has other initiatives year-round to help educate parents and others in the community, including the 'Safe Homes Network.' Lennox added, 'Parents can sign up for it, and they are just all in agreement that they are not going to allow underage drinking in their homes. If you know your kid is going to a party or get-together, you can look up a name and be like, 'Oh, that family signed the pledge, they are on the same side as I, so I can relax and not worry about them going off to socialize there.' Lennox said they also work to empower parents to make decisions if their child is not listening, such as not paying for their child's car insurance if they are not following their rules. Winston also said that parents or other social hosts shouldn't assume that if someone is involved in an accident under the social host, the homeowner's insurance will cover it. He said many homeowners' insurance policies won't cover it, as drinking under age is a criminal act. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Changes proposed to Pennsylvania EBT cards
(WHTM) – Changes could be coming for Pennsylvania's SNAP recipients. On Monday, the Pennsylvania State House passed a bipartisan bill that would require a report on transitioning to chip-enabled Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Proposed by State Reps. Dan Williams (D-Chester) and Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), the transition to chip-enabled cards would increase security for card users amid EBT card-skimming incidents. 'I've had a growing number of constituents share their stories about theft of their SNAP benefits through skimming schemes,' said Williams. 'Unlike debit and credit cards, EBT cards lack security chips, making them highly vulnerable to fraud. Since October 2022, Pennsylvania has recorded more than 23,000 cases of EBT theft.' Pennsylvanians on SNAP urged to change EBT card information; Here's why If passed by the State Senate and signed into law by the governor, the bill would require the Department of Human Services to deliver a report to lawmakers highlighting costs, fraud prevention efforts and relevant statistics to enhance the security of SNAP benefits. Williams says Pennsylvania is one of the few states in the country that hasn't transitioned to chip-enabled EBT cards. Pennsylvania recently rolled out a new security feature for EBT cards where users can lock the card to prevent benefit theft. Users can also change their PIN and are encouraged to consider a change when benefits roll out each month. 'We are constantly working to ensure that the benefits DHS administers stay with the Pennsylvanians who need them. The Department of Human Services is aware of skimming incidents that have been targeting SNAP recipients – card skimming and SNAP theft have been issues nationwide,' said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. 'Do not become a victim of this crime. Make sure you change your PIN every month, and when you swipe your EBT card at a card reader, please make sure a skimming device is not attached.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now If SNAP benefits are stolen from an EBT card, users should immediately report the theft to local law enforcement and to the OSIG by calling 1-800-932-0582. If an individual's benefits are stolen, they should request a replacement EBT card as soon as possible from DHS' EBT contractor, Conduent, at 888-328-7366, or by contacting their local County Assistance Office. Card benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, can not be replaced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arrive Alive Tour shows local students the consequences of impaired driving
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Students in the area are learning the consequences of impaired driving. Police say no one should ever drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Chicopee students got to experience a simulation of what could happen if they do just that. Daily, across the country, more than 30 people die in crashes related to drunk driving. That's one person every 42 minutes. At Chicopee Comprehensive High School, dozens of students got to try a virtual experience showing the consequences of driving distracted or under the influence. Springfield man charged with DUI, wrong-way driving in Enfield 'We have sensors on the gas pedal brakes and steering wheel,' said Arrive Alive Tour event coordinator Jalen Burress. 'They'll feel like a delayed reaction from the steering and brakes because it's trying to simulate drivers that are impaired or distracted and are going to react slower to what's on the road.' By putting on a set of special VR glasses, students got to see what it was like to drive under the influence, feeling distracted and in danger on the roads. Experts say if you feel different, you drive different. Organizers used the opportunity to educate students and bring awareness to the issue. 'It definitely feels like you should never do it, because if you actually get in a car accident you can severely hurt yourself and other people, and you would never want that to happen,' said student Griffin Stefanik. 'I experienced that, I went way over the speed limit and I didn't mean to,' said student Emily Flurry. 'It was hard to control it, like the steering wheel, and still not hit anything and stay on the right side of the road.' Chicopee police and the Arrive Alive Tour plan to speak to more high schoolers on Wednesday and Thursday about the dangers of driving distracted and under the influence. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
