5-01-2024 4:20am

LOCAL DOT WARNS

Jeff Barto Editor

The E-ZPass Group of the Department of Transportation is issuing an alert to all E-ZPass customers about a text messaging scam targeted at customers of tolling agencies across the United States. The scam aims to deceive customers into entering their personal data and financial information to a fake website.

Customers receiving text messages claiming to be sent by “E-ZPass Toll Services” that directs them to click a link to pay an outstanding toll balance to avoid a late fee should be aware that this message is fraudulent. The toll account information provided in these texts is neither valid nor accurate.

E-ZPass warns customers to delete the texts immediately and do not click on any links embedded in the text messages. Customers who have clicked the link and completed the form should immediately contact their financial institution and notify E-ZPass of any erroneous information posted to their accounts.

In Maryland, customers should contact DriveEzMD at 1-888-321-6824 or live chat at www.driveezmd.com (Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.). In-person Customer Service Centers are open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Extended hours are in effect Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. View full list of center locations here https://driveezmd.com/contact-us/.

Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a public service announcement warning the public about a wave of fraudulent SMS texts attempting to scam toll road users. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received over 2,000 complaints reporting fraudulent texts representing road toll collection service from at least three states.

The complaint information indicates that the scam appears to be moving from state to state. The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and contain almost identical language. The “outstanding toll amount” has been similar among the complaints reported to the IC3. 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.

E-ZPass advises customers that if you receive one of these texts, file a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov.

“Scam attacks through emails and text messaging are on the rise in our country and protecting the safety of E-ZPass customer information is of paramount importance to us”, stated PJ Wilkins, E-ZPass Group Executive Director. “We will continue to work with our partnering states to alert our customers of any criminal activity that places them at risk, and we encourage E-ZPass customers to be vigilant in ensuring that their personal and financial information is not compromised by falling prey to these fraudulent schemes.”