Latest news with #OhioTurnpike
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ohio Turnpike toll payment scams on the rise. Why Apple, Samsung can't stop texts
Those smishing texts telling you to make an Ohio Turnpike toll payment won't stop coming. They're urgent, mean, and may induce panic by lying to you. Most smishing texts will say it's their "final notice," and you will face serious consequences for unpaid tolls, like paying a huge fine or losing your license. For your information: Ohio Turnpike will never ask you to pay for tolls through your text messages. So don't fall for it. You may have found these scam texts last August, wondering why nothing has been done about it. The scams are happening more frequently, and, unfortunately, it's challenging for major phone companies to prevent them. Here's what to know. Fraudsters are finding increasingly creative ways to scare you about unpaid tolls. According to CNBC, Apple should have a safety feature that strips the link from the text. However, hackers continue to find ways to evade it. On the other hand, Android has a feature that allows you to add a smishing number to a spam list. But hackers can easily change their number to send you another text. Ohio Turnpike toll payment scam texts started to appear more frequently on cell phones in April 2024. Since then, these smishing texts have increased rapidly. Over the past three months, the search term "road toll scams" has increased by 900%, according to CNBC, indicating that many people nationwide have been receiving scam text messages about unpaid tolls. Ohio is the worst state for spam and scam texts. Residents of the state logged the most FTC and FCC complaints about scam communications per capita, making it the worst state, ahead of Delaware, Illinois and Arizona. Alongside the Ohio Turnpike, Georgia's PeachPass, Illinois' I-PASS and Florida's Sun Pass are other systems being targeted with scams. Hackers purposefully use fear and urgency to make you panic about unpaid tolls. Take a moment to pause and realize it's a scam. Don't fall for it, and don't engage. The Ohio Turnpike informs customers that they will never request payments via text and that collections of unpaid tolls and toll violations do not occur through text messaging. It warns motorists about fake text messages intended to swindle recipients and trick them into revealing personal information, including bank and credit card info, to fraudsters. In early March, the Ohio Turnpike issued a press release warning recipients of the scam. "The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is reminding mobile phone users everywhere to be aware of a resurgence in fraudulent texts from scammers requesting payment for unpaid tolls through fake websites." The Federal Communications Commission's website lists tips so that you can avoid falling for smishing scams: Never click links, reply to text messages or call numbers you don't recognize. Do not respond, even if the message requests that you "text STOP" to end messages. Delete all suspicious texts. Make sure your smart device's OS and security apps are updated to the latest version. Consider installing anti-malware software on your device for added security. Protect any sensitive personal information, such as bank accounts, health records and social media accounts, by using multifactor authentication to access it. The FBI recommends that you take the following actions if you encounter a smishing text message: File a complaint with the IC3 and be sure to include: The phone number where the text originated. The website within the text. Check your account using the toll service's legitimate website. Contact the toll service's customer service phone number. Delete any smishing texts received. If you clicked any link or provided your information, make efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Turnpike payment scam texts: Why Apple, Samsung can't stop them
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
OSHP reminds people of toll payment text scam
Are you still getting text messages about that unpaid toll payment? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] If yes, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is reminding people it's a scam. They said on social media that 'this is like part of an ongoing, nationwide texting scam.' As previously reported by News Center 7, the Ohio Turnpike said it does not send text messages requesting payment for unpaid tolls. TRENDING STORIES: 'Traffic is going to be crazy;' Reaction to upcoming changes in Dayton during NATO Assembly Officers arrest 34-year-old driver for suspected OVI in Montgomery County Community reacts to pickleball center moving into shuttered Big Lots store 'The Ohio Turnpike will send up to three invoices by U.S. Mail to collect unpaid tolls,' they said on their Facebook page. They added that if you received a text message from Reliant Capital Solutions LLC, a collection agency for the Ohio Attorney's Office, contact them at 866-738-3182 before making any payment. The Turnpike said this is for an account in collections more than 90 days past due. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Toll road text scams: How to know it isn't legit
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) – The Ohio Turnpike and the Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland are warning people about a text scam that has made a recent comeback. The texts request payment information for unpaid tolls through websites that are not legitimate. FOX 8's Wayne Dawson shares update on cancer journey: 'Still fighting day by day' The scam is happening nationwide and has recently returned to Northeast Ohio. A turnpike spokesperson told Fox 8 they've received a high volume of calls recently from people who are receiving these texts. In a statement emailed to Fox 8, they said bills for unpaid tolls will never come via text message: Travel advisory issued by US government for Turks and Caicos Islands 'If you receive a random text message claiming you have a toll payment due, please be aware that it is an ongoing, nationwide texting scam. The Ohio Turnpike does NOT send text messages requesting payment for unpaid tolls. The Ohio Turnpike will send up to three invoices to a customer by U.S. Mail to collect unpaid tolls. All suspicious text messages should be deleted without clicking any links. Anyone who clicked a fraudulent link and provided personal information should immediately contact their bank or credit card provider to secure their financial accounts. Victims of texting scams can file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at Be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the Ohio Turnpike's official websites are and The Ohio Turnpike's customer service number is 440.971.2222.' Other tips from the BBB include: -Blocking the number and deleting the message -Do not engage with the scammer if you believe you received a fake text message -Do not click on links or download files unexpectedly texted to you -If you receive a message impersonating a road toll collection service, you can report it through the BBB Scam Tracker to help warn others. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ohio Turnpike issues reminder about text scam for toll payments
(WKBN)- The Ohio Turnpike is reminding everyone that scammers have been asking for toll payments via text. The commission talked about the scam weeks ago and then issued a reminder on Friday saying that scam text messages are going out to mobile phone users everywhere — not just in Ohio. The fraudulent texts are being sent randomly to mobile phone users in various area codes and attempt to impersonate the website addresses of toll agencies across the country. All suspicious text messages should be deleted without clicking any links. Anyone who clicked a fraudulent link and provided personal information should immediately contact their bank or credit card provider to secure their financial accounts. 'The Ohio Turnpike does NOT send text messages requesting payment for unpaid tolls. The Ohio Turnpike will only notify you of an unpaid toll through the U.S. Mail,' the agency says in a new video. 'If you've received a suspicious or fraudulent text, do not click the link or provide any personal information.' Victims of texting scams can file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at Be sure to include the sender's phone number and the website listed in the text. The Ohio Turnpike's website is You can check there to see how to check and pay toll charges. Patty Coller contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unpaid toll text scam warning issued; have you received them?
Have you received any text messages about an unpaid toll payment? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission said it is likely part of an ongoing nationwide texting scam, according to a social media post. TRENDING STORIES: State troopers ID 45-year-old woman killed in rollover crash in Shelby Co. Do you recognize him? Police looking for man accused of stealing from Sephora Hours long raid at area smoke shop connected to 2023 investigation, officials say Multiple area police agencies, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, have issued similar warnings on their Facebook pages. 'The Ohio Turnpike does NOT send text messages requesting payment for unpaid tolls,' the Ohio Turnpike stated. 'The Ohio Turnpike will send up to three invoices by U.S. Mail to collect unpaid tolls.' They added that if you received a text message from Reliant Capital Solutions LLC, a collection agency for the Ohio Attorney's Office, contact them at 866-738-3182 before making any payment. The Turnpike said this is for an account in collections more than 90 days past due. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
