VA E-ZPass 'Smishing' Scam Returns, Targets Toll Road Drivers

VIRGINIA — Virginia officials are warning residents about another smishing scam that uses text messages to target E-ZPass users in the state.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the texts are coming from scammers claiming to represent E-ZPass Virginia or a specific state toll facility. The texts claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and direct them to click on a link to pay the outstanding balance.

Smishing — a way to deceive and steal from people through text messages — is short for “SMS phishing.”

The scam text looks similar to the example displayed below:

E-ZPass users should not click on any links in the text, officials said.

Anyone receiving the texts should validate any tolls owed with the Virginia Department of Transportation or E-ZPass website. After doing the above, users should delete any scam texts they receive.

Those who believe they received a smishing text about tolls due can also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and include the phone number of the text message as well as the web link listed within the text.