NC Turnpike Authority says toll fee texts are likely scams

Yahoo

15-02-2025

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Have you or anyone else you know received a text message to pay an unpaid toll bill?
Staff with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority said it's most likely a scam.
Raleigh resident Theresa Amaya said she received similar messages just weeks apart.
'The first time said that I owed a $6.99 toll fee and it provides a link,' said Amaya.
The first message stated: 'Your vehicle has an unpaid toll bill. To avoid excessive late fees on your bill, please settle it promptly. Thank you for your cooperation! Total amount: $6.99.'
Amaya said another message also mentioned to pay a fee to avoid fines and potentially losing her driver's license.
'I could see, especially because a new toll road just opened in our area, people would become alarmed and would go through that link and potentially pay,' said Amaya.
Amaya said the first big red flag — she's never used any of the toll roads.
On her Nextdoor app, Amaya said she quickly learned that several of her neighbors had also received similar text messages. Many shared posts to warn others to use caution and avoid clicking on any links.
Logen Hodges with the N.C. Turnpike Authority said the texts are a phishing scam that have brought phone calls and questions their way for the last couple of years.
'Probably since early 2023, there's been an ongoing attempt in scamming people to pay fake toll bills, and North Carolina residents are seeing that every couple weeks it seems like now,' said Hodges.
With an uptick of similar messages in cities across the country, the FBI and Federal Trade Commission also put out a warning telling drivers and phone users who got the message to be aware.
'From what we can tell, all the numbers that are targeted in these scams, they're picked at random. There's no direct connotation of the usage of a toll road in North Carolina or any state,' Hodges said. 'It really is just a North Carolina-based zip code and they're just mass-sending these texts out to see who they can get in their net.'
In response to the ongoing scam, Hodges said the department recently took extra steps and created a web page to break down what an NC Quick Pass is and what key factors customers can look at to verify information. He said NC Quick Pass will never request a payment by text and all links associated with NC Quick Pass will always include 'ncquickpass.com' or 'secure.ncquickpass.com.'
With scammers becoming more sophisticated, Hodges said they've done more to make their website more secure. including adding the ''real human verification' for users when they log in.
'People are not at risk for losing their license for tolls in North Carolina,' said Hodges.
Raleigh driver Tyler Sharrock said he tries to avoid clicking on any links he's unfamiliar with unless it's from a validated source.
'These scammers, they're getting a lot smarter. They're coming up with all kinds of divisive ways to find people — especially vulnerable people,' said Sharrock. 'I'm in a couple of groups where people I see as pretty smart people have been scammed by smart scammers out there. They can really target anybody.'
Sharrock said unusual phone numbers and links are often a red flag, and clicking on a link could mean losing more than just money.
'People are, especially in this day and age and economy, are really working hard and struggling to make ends meet,' Amaya, the Raleigh resident, said. 'And then to have somebody scam you out of your money and not know what else you're giving them access to … sometimes when you click those links you're giving them access to a lot more information and data.'
If you receive the scam, Hodges said people can file a complaint and take efforts to secure any personal information and financial accounts that could be impacted.
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