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USA Today
5 days ago
- USA Today
She ignored 'scam' texts telling her she owed money. It backfired
Americans' inboxes face a daily deluge of unwanted spam. Phishing texts claiming that tolls haven't been paid or packages can't be delivered, calls from solicitors promising to erase debt, malware emails offering winnings from a sweepstakes that no one ever entered. The youngest and oldest among us, even, have developed a way to manage the sheer volume of messages, often by hitting 'delete' the moment something looks like it slipped past their spam filter. This instinct, however, comes with the risk of missing real, urgent messages, something one California resident learned the hard way. Ashley, 47, said she had been receiving texts from a number claiming to be The Toll Roads, the administrator of tolling in California, stating that the balance on her electronic toll payment method, FasTrak (similar to other systems like E-Z Pass, SunPass and TxTag), was getting low. With everyone from the federal government to the tolling agency itself advising that consumers delete phony text messages about owed tolls from their phones, she did just that. More: Toll road scam: More transportation authorities warn of fake texts in multiple states 'I assumed it was a scam and so I just kept deleting them because I was like, 'Oh, I'm not going to fall for that, I'm too smart to fall for that,'' she told USA TODAY. 'Prior to this, they had been communicating with me via email. I didn't even know that they had my phone number and so I assumed 100% it was a scam.' Ashley's reticence to click the link urging her to 'pay now' was hardly unfounded; warnings about a storm of phishing texts from scammers posing as toll authorities have been issued by agencies from the Federal Trade Commission to the FBI since January. Having received a plethora of obviously fake texts from senders claiming to be from UPS, FedEx, her bank and beyond, Ashley said she had no reason to believe these were any different. That was, until she finally got an email, reviewed by USA TODAY, with a big, bold deactivation notice. When 'scam' texts turn out to be real '[The email] said 'we've deactivated your account. You're going to be in flagrant violation if you use any of our toll roads ever again,'' Ashley said. 'And I just panicked because I use them all the time, you know.' It was then that she finally logged in, checked her account, and found it disconnected from the auto-refill feature that had previously been attached to her bank card. 'I went into my account and, indeed, it had been deactivated, it had been canceled and all of those text messages were, in fact, from them,' she said. Fortunately, she had not yet incurred a large unpaid balance of tolls and fees, but she said the idea that she could have been breaking the law or putting herself in a bad position without her knowledge troubled her. 'Anytime I get a text message that says 'you need to send money' or 'click on this link' and I don't know where it's from, I automatically delete it,' she said. 'I do wonder how businesses are going to be able to communicate with their customers via text. I'm not even sure that they can because there is so much fraud that I don't think I'm alone in not believing a text from a legitimate business.' Toll companies advise caution Michelle Kennedy, media relations manager for The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which operates The Toll Roads, told USA TODAY in an email that while some account holders may receive texts about legitimate account issues, 'the majority' of text interactions reported to the agency are phishing scam-related. '[TCA] will send text messages to our accountholders ONLY if they opt in to receive messages – and only sent when we are unable to process payment on their account, replenishment amounts change or credit card expiration is nearing,' she said. Customers may also receive interactions from legitimate customer service representatives via email, phone call or physical mail. '[TCA] has several ways for customers to interact with The Toll Roads and check account status, establish accounts, manage accounts, pay tolls and resolve violations,' she said, including The Toll Roads app, statement emails and customer service phone lines and walk-in centers. How to spot a text message scam While Ashley was able to reactivate her account without paying a huge fee, an account that goes delinquent can result in hundreds and even thousands of dollars in penalties in other states. With scam attacks on iPhones and Androids surging by more than 700% in June alone, the need for caution doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon, leaving consumers with the question: how do I protect myself from malicious texts without missing real and important ones? Leyla Bilge, Global Head of Scam Research for the antivirus and cybersecurity software company Norton, has some tips. 'With scam messages growing more convincing, it's no longer enough to rely on instinct alone,' she said. 'Think of your inbox like a busy street. Some doors lead to real businesses, and others are traps. You wouldn't walk into a sketchy alley just because someone shouted your name, so treat suspicious messages the same way.' Bilge's checklist for verifying the legitimacy of a text includes a few easy-to-follow tips: 'When people understand how scams operate and feel equipped to verify messages safely, they're more likely to pause, think, and make the right call — without missing something important,' she said. 'The calmer and more confident we are, the harder it is for scammers to succeed.'
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Interstate 80 express toll lanes could officially launch in Solano County before year's end
On at least one stretch of Interstate 80, Sacramento area drivers are seeing fewer orange cones. It's good news for those used to construction-related traffic delays up and down the corridor. A Caltrans project in its final stages is set to launch new FasTrak express lanes on I-80 in both directions from Vacaville's 505 interchange to Fairfield, as soon as December. In late June, Caltrans wrapped up construction of a brand new express lane in Vacaville that stretches down to Fairfield, where an existing HOV lane was converted to an express lane. The project took about a year and a half to complete. "It's more than just people driving from Vacaville or Fairfield, it's the whole region," said Vince Jacala, a spokesperson for Caltrans District 4, which encompasses Solano County. Drivers may have noticed within the past three weeks, the new lanes through Solano County are already open. In late June, Caltrans went ahead and opened the lanes to drivers to be used as temporary carpool or HOV lanes, allowing drivers a free sample of the soon-to-be I-80 express. The toll, once it launches, will be optional for drivers who want to pay the price for a quicker commute. "This project is a big deal. It's the first time Caltrans has widened Interstate 80 through this stretch of Solano County in 50 years," said Jacala. The temporary carpool lanes are already helping address the bumper-to-bumper backups that the project set out to fix. "It's really helped with traffic and helped relieve things for now," said Jacala. "When there's a lot of congestion and stop-and-go traffic, it creates a safety issue." Since Caltrans has finished construction of the lanes, the project is now in the hands of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to finish the final steps. MTC tells CBS Sacramento that right now, the agency is collecting data to test the toll system and make sure it is working properly. They also have to finish installing the electronic signage and capture systems needed. Caltrans said the projected completion date is set for December, but it could be pushed to Spring 2026 depending on the weather. So, how much is it going to cost drivers? MTC said it depends on the trip's time and distance. "For reference, the most recent data for average toll assessed on the I-680 express lanes in Contra Costa County was about $4.00 and over 60% of paid trips cost drivers less than $3.00," an MTC spokesperson told CBS Sacramento in a statement. Still, this is not just about Solano County traffic. Caltrans is eyeing regionwide upgrades. Plans are already in the works for an express lane from Davis to Downtown Sacramento, as CBS13 has previously reported. Jacala then described "the gap" from Dixon to Davis that they would want to fill in. "We want to extend express lanes all the way into downtown Sacramento," said Jacala. Meaning, the future of freeway traffic could look like an express lane drivers can take all the way from downtown Sacramento to the Bay Area and everywhere in between. Drivers interested in using the express lane once it launches need a FasTrak account linked to their license plate. To use the lanes as a carpool, drivers need to purchase a FasTrak flex toll tag for the vehicle that they can then set to the number of people currently in the car. Carpools with three or more people can use the express lane toll-free with a FasTrak flex tag. Two-person carpools will pay half-price tolls. For more information on the project, visit the Caltrans website.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Have you been the victim of a text message scam claiming you owe money for unpaid tolls? Tell us your story.
A growing number of Americans are being targeted by scammers who send text messages seeking money for unpaid toll road fees. "You have an unpaid toll bill on your account. To avoid late fees, pay within 12 hours or the late fees will be increased and reported to the DMV," a text message received last week by this reporter stated. But federal and state officials are warning people not to fall for it. "Whether you've driven through a toll recently or not, you might've gotten a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls. It's probably a scam," the Federal Trade Commission stated in a consumer alert posted last month. "Scammers are pretending to be tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money." In California, many of the fraudulent messages claim to be sent from FasTrak, the state's electronic toll collection system. In northeastern states with electronic toll payments, some messages say they are from E-ZPass. 'The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and contain almost identical language,' the FBI said in a recent warning. 'The 'outstanding toll amount' is similar among the complaints reported to the IC3 (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center). However, the link provided within the text is created to impersonate the state's toll service name, and phone numbers appear to change between states.' Officials say there's a reason for the uptick in the number of fake, unpaid toll text messages people are receiving: They work. 'Scammers have become skilled at imitating legitimate companies, sometimes even linking to legitimate websites. Text-based toll charge scams are prevalent right now and knowing what to look for can keep consumers safe against these tactics,' California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a press release last month. If you've been the victim of a toll road scam, we'd like to hear about your experience. Fill out the questionnaire below, and we'll publish some of the responses in a future article.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Beware of text messages about unpaid tolls, FBI and state authorities warn
(NEXSTAR) – Drivers should be on the lookout for scam text messages warning of an unpaid road toll bill, according to recent warnings from authorities. The text messages name the local toll service, such as FasTrak in California, and have a link that takes the victim to a convincingly-duped version of the collection operator's website. 'The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and contain almost identical language,' according to the FBI. 'The 'outstanding toll amount' is similar among the complaints reported to the IC3 (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center). However, the link provided within the text is created to impersonate the state's toll service name, and phone numbers appear to change between states.' The FBI told Nexstar that it received more than 60,000 complaints in 2024 from people reporting suspicious messages about unpaid tolls. The text-based style of the scam has been labeled 'smishing,' which combines 'SMS' or 'short message service' with 'phishing,' which usually refers to attacks made via email or websites. 'Smishing scams are successful because people tend to trust text messages more than emails, often responding quickly to them without fully considering the content, especially when the message appears to be from a trusted source like a bank or delivery company, making it easy for attackers to trick users into clicking on malicious links or sharing sensitive information,' according to the FBI. The flood of attacks has prompted warnings from police and toll authorities across the country in recent weeks. Last Wednesday, Brian Keenan, the police chief in Holyoke, Mass., reminded E-ZPass users that 'city, state or federal agencies nor utility companies, police, sheriffs, etc. do not accept payments via gift cards, bitcoin, Venmo or similar online payment services.' How National Park staffing cuts could impact your next visit Keenan encouraged residents to delete any such messages and share information about the scam with 'older or elderly members of your family as that population is often targeted.' In California, FastTrak continues to warn customers about the fraud, adding that FasTrak 'does not request payment by text with a link to a website.' The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says they have received a number of complaints about the fake collection attempts, made under the name of various toll services that include the Illinois Tollway, Florida Turnpike (Sunpass), Georgia Peach Pass or EZ Drive MA. 'At first I thought it was legitimate,' said one Massachusetts driver who filed a complaint with the BBB after remembering that autopay was set up and should have covered the toll cost. Roughly a year after the predatory text messages began, investigators and toll collection services are learning more about how the bad actors are operating. John Goodwin, assistant director of communications with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco, said the smishing campaign may not be confined to the United States. 'The domain registration for the websites that these messages instruct folks to click on, typically, are registered offshore,' Goodwin said. 'We've traced these to domains registered in Hong Kong, registered in Russia [and] at least one South American country.' In the San Francisco Bay Area, Goodwin says the messages often come in waves, with the messages changing every six or eight weeks, and target people indiscriminately. 'It concerns people, whether they're customers or not,' Goodwin said. 'Our legitimate customers are understandably upset about this, and those who are not yet FasTrak customers are confused.' The scam has even caught the attention of the global International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association (IBTTA), which reported last summer that several states actively shut down illegitimate sites as they were discovered, but admitted that combatting the texts had been challenging. 'The fraudulent messages communicate low toll values owed, combined with the sense of urgency to avoid potentially high fees and risks of vehicle registration or license suspensions,' according to the IBTTA. 'The combination often tricks victims into providing details of their personal information.' The websites behind the imposter texts can look extremely convincing, so those who click on the link may feel secure enough to provide personal details and payment information. If you've fallen victim to the scam, make sure your personal and financial information is secure. The FBI recommends disputing any unfamiliar charges to your credit card account. 'If you have clicked on any of the links from these texts, bad actors could install ransomware or other programs to spy on your online activity or hold your device hostage by encrypting data and demanding payment to unscramble it,' according to the FBI. 'They could also gain access to personal information including passwords, credit card numbers, banking PINs, etc., to take out loans or credit cards or perform other fraudulent financial transactions using your identity.' For more information on safeguarding your identity or starting the recovery process, see the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft website. The FBI has the following tips for avoiding smishing attacks: Be cautious about clicking links in text messages, even if they appear to be from a trusted source. Remember that companies generally don't contact you to ask for your username or password. Don't click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message. Look up the company's phone number on your own (don't use the one a potential scammer is providing), and call the company to ask if the request is legitimate. Carefully examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence. Scammers use slight differences to trick your eye and gain your trust. Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you. Set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it, and never disable it. Be careful with what information you share online or on social media. By openly sharing things like pet names, schools you attended, family members, and your birthday, you can give a scammer all the information they need to guess your password or answer your security questions. The FBI asks people who receive unpaid toll smishing texts to report them to the IC3 and include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed in the text. 'This allows us to track trends and see where there are similarities and differences in what the bad actors are using or how they are contacting their victims,' the FBI told Nexstar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
23-02-2025
- The Hill
Beware of text messages about unpaid tolls, FBI and state authorities warn
(NEXSTAR) – Drivers should be on the lookout for scam text messages warning of an unpaid road toll bill, according to recent warnings from authorities. The text messages name the local toll service, such as FasTrak in California, and have a link that takes the victim to a convincingly-duped version of the collection operator's website. 'The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and contain almost identical language,' according to the FBI. 'The 'outstanding toll amount' is similar among the complaints reported to the IC3 (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center). However, the link provided within the text is created to impersonate the state's toll service name, and phone numbers appear to change between states.' The FBI told Nexstar that it received more than 60,000 complaints in 2024 from people reporting suspicious messages about unpaid tolls. The text-based style of the scam has been labeled 'smishing,' which combines 'SMS' or 'short message service' with 'phishing,' which usually refers to attacks made via email or websites. 'Smishing scams are successful because people tend to trust text messages more than emails, often responding quickly to them without fully considering the content, especially when the message appears to be from a trusted source like a bank or delivery company, making it easy for attackers to trick users into clicking on malicious links or sharing sensitive information,' according to the FBI. The flood of attacks has prompted warnings from police and toll authorities across the country in recent weeks. Last Wednesday, Brian Keenan, the police chief in Holyoke, Mass., reminded E-ZPass users that 'city, state or federal agencies nor utility companies, police, sheriffs, etc. do not accept payments via gift cards, bitcoin, Venmo or similar online payment services.' Keenan encouraged residents to delete any such messages and share information about the scam with 'older or elderly members of your family as that population is often targeted.' In California, FastTrak continues to warn customers about the fraud, adding that FasTrak 'does not request payment by text with a link to a website.' The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says they have received a number of complaints about the fake collection attempts, made under the name of various toll services that include the Illinois Tollway, Florida Turnpike (Sunpass), Georgia Peach Pass or EZ Drive MA. 'At first I thought it was legitimate,' said one Massachusetts driver who filed a complaint with the BBB after remembering that autopay was set up and should have covered the toll cost. What do we know about the scammers? Roughly a year after the predatory text messages began, investigators and toll collection services are learning more about how the bad actors are operating. John Goodwin, assistant director of communications with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco, said the smishing campaign may not be confined to the United States. 'The domain registration for the websites that these messages instruct folks to click on, typically, are registered offshore,' Goodwin said. 'We've traced these to domains registered in Hong Kong, registered in Russia [and] at least one South American country.' In the San Francisco Bay Area, Goodwin says the messages often come in waves, with the messages changing every six or eight weeks, and target people indiscriminately. 'It concerns people, whether they're customers or not,' Goodwin said. 'Our legitimate customers are understandably upset about this, and those who are not yet FasTrak customers are confused.' The scam has even caught the attention of the global International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association (IBTTA), which reported last summer that several states actively shut down illegitimate sites as they were discovered, but admitted that combatting the texts had been challenging. 'The fraudulent messages communicate low toll values owed, combined with the sense of urgency to avoid potentially high fees and risks of vehicle registration or license suspensions,' according to the IBTTA. 'The combination often tricks victims into providing details of their personal information.' What happens if you tried to make a toll payment? The websites behind the imposter texts can look extremely convincing, so those who click on the link may feel secure enough to provide personal details and payment information. If you've fallen victim to the scam, make sure your personal and financial information is secure. The FBI recommends disputing any unfamiliar charges to your credit card account. 'If you have clicked on any of the links from these texts, bad actors could install ransomware or other programs to spy on your online activity or hold your device hostage by encrypting data and demanding payment to unscramble it,' according to the FBI. 'They could also gain access to personal information including passwords, credit card numbers, banking PINs, etc., to take out loans or credit cards or perform other fraudulent financial transactions using your identity.' For more information on safeguarding your identity or starting the recovery process, see the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft website. Avoiding text-based scams The FBI has the following tips for avoiding smishing attacks: Be cautious about clicking links in text messages, even if they appear to be from a trusted source. Remember that companies generally don't contact you to ask for your username or password. Don't click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message. Look up the company's phone number on your own (don't use the one a potential scammer is providing), and call the company to ask if the request is legitimate. Carefully examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence. Scammers use slight differences to trick your eye and gain your trust. Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you. Set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it, and never disable it. Be careful with what information you share online or on social media. By openly sharing things like pet names, schools you attended, family members, and your birthday, you can give a scammer all the information they need to guess your password or answer your security questions. The FBI asks people who receive unpaid toll smishing texts to report them to the IC3 and include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed in the text. 'This allows us to track trends and see where there are similarities and differences in what the bad actors are using or how they are contacting their victims,' the FBI told Nexstar.
