Getting texts about unpaid tolls? It’s probably a scam. Here’s how to keep your info safe.
A common scam tactic is back and affecting Ohioans.
Over the past few weeks, many Ohioans have received text messages saying they have unpaid road tolls and will face penalties or legal action if they go unpaid. Some of these messages even include a link to a fake payment site.
These messages come from scammers looking to extract payment and personal information from Ohioans, according to the FTC.
The Ohio Turnpike started a new open road tolling system with E-ZPass in April 2024, allowing customers with passes to drive through the toll road without stopping.
The new system also brought more toll scam messages to the state. The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission released a fact sheet in August warning Ohioans of the text message scams. It also suspended all late fees, collections and vehicle registration holds for unpaid tolls to give drivers a grace period to adjust to the new toll system.
That grace period came to an end in February. The turnpike started issuing late fees for unpaid tolls on Feb. 3 and started sending unpaid tolls to the Ohio Attorney General’s office for collection on Feb. 10.
Unpaid toll invoices are sent by mail, not by text message. Complicating the matter is the fact that Reliant Capital Solutions, LLC—a debt collector for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office—will send texts about unpaid toll debt.
If you receive a message about unpaid toll debt, here are some steps the FTC recommends.
If you are victimized by one of these scams, contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and be sure to include the phone number the text came from and the website included in the text. If you clicked the link or made a payment, secure your financial accounts and personal information and dispute any unexpected charges, according to the FBI.
NHart@dispatch.com
@NathanRHart
Why are these scams happening?
How to stay safe from toll scams
VDOT warns E-Z Pass users of familiar ‘smishing’ scam
WRIC ABC 8News
by: Julia Broberg
Posted: Mar 3, 2025 / 06:30 PM EST
Updated: Mar 4, 2025 / 11:18 AM EST
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is warning E-Z Pass users of a familiar ‘smishing’ scam asking for people’s financial information through text messages.
A ‘smishing’ scam is defined by the FBI as a scam that comes in the form of a text message.
This type of scam, in particular, may be familiar to some Virginians — as E-Z Pass users got similar messages sent to them in August 2024.
While the general idea of smishing messages is similar across the board, there are certain aspects of the texts that can change. Several different examples of what these messages can look like are featured below.
Overall, these particular messages aim to convince victims that they have an overdue balance on their toll account and that they should pay that balance right away through the link included in the message.
VDOT posted a warning on Facebook the morning of Monday, March 3, informing people that toll bills will never be sent from VDOT or the Virginia DMV by text message. The department is urging people to never give away financial information over text.
If you have received text messages about toll bills, you can click here to validate them.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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8News is your source for local news and weather in Richmond and Central Virginia
58
by Alexia Stanbridge
TOPICS:
(WSET) — A new scam is targeting Virginia residents through their phones, with fraudsters posing as toll authorities to demand payment for supposed outstanding balances.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has issued a warning about the “smishing” scam, where individuals receive text messages threatening penalties or legal action if they do not pay by a specified date.
SEE ALSO: Card skimming devices found at multiple Walmart locations in region
The scam messages often include a link with instructions on how to resolve the alleged toll debt.
VDOT has clarified that these messages are not from them, and they urge residents not to click on any links provided in such texts.
VDOT advised that if you receive a suspicious text, you can verify its authenticity by visiting here.
Additionally, residents can report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center here.
