Scammers Targeting MD E-ZPass Users With Fake Texts
According to officials, the texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and direct them to click on a link to pay the balance.
Officials are warning E-ZPass users about a new scam that uses fake text messages to target Maryland drivers. (Shutterstock)
Officials are warning E-ZPass users about a new scam that uses fake text messages to target Maryland drivers.
According to the Maryland Attorney General's Office, the texts are coming from scammers claiming to represent a road toll collection service. The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and direct them to click on a link to pay the outstanding balance.
The scam text looks similar to the example displayed below:
"Do not pay any money or reveal any personal information to any person or group that contacts you through a text about a toll debt," Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement.
Anyone who receives a similar text should do the following:
Do not click on any links in the text.
File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, and be sure to include:
The phone number from which the text originated; and
The website listed in the text.
Check your account using the toll service’s legitimate website. For Maryland E-ZPass, this website is https://driveezmd.com.
Contact the toll service’s customer service phone number. Maryland E-ZPass’ customer service number is 1-888-321-6824.
After doing the above, delete any texts like this that you receive.
If you received a similar text and paid the texter any amount of money or revealed any personal information, officials recommend taking the following steps:
Contact the company that facilitated the funds transfer to see if you can stop the payment.
Contact the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Unit to learn how to protect yourself in case the scammers try to use your personal information and how to recover if you are impacted
Contact your local law enforcement department to report the theft.