LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – State officials have issued a warning to California drivers after a spike in text-based toll scams that demand payment.
The documents claim drivers are paying express lane tolls or tolls and trick recipients into visiting what appears to be a legitimate tolling agency’s website, according to a news release from State Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office. The scammers are tricked into following a link that appears to be someone else, and then accessing their bank account. or credit card information.
AG’s Rob Bonta said: “Scammers are skilled at imitating legitimate businesses, and in some cases even linking to legitimate websites. Text-based billing fraud is now widespread. “However, consumers can protect themselves from these tactics by knowing what to look for.”
Authorities say most of the text-based scams come from FasTrak and link to fraudulent websites claiming to be run by The Toll Roads.
Text-based billing scam sent to drivers in Southern California asking for payment. (KTLA)
FasTrak is an electronic toll collection system used on California toll bridges, lanes, and roads that allows drivers to pay electronic tolls without stopping at a toll plaza. The release states that no payment will be required.
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“Toll roads and other California toll collection agencies will not send text messages to anyone other than the account holder,” the agency added.
For customers of Transit Corridor Agencies, which operates Orange County’s toll roads, officials said they should check for enabled text notifications by logging into their account at www.thetollroads.com or using the Services app. He said there is.
A list of California’s authorized toll collection agencies and their websites includes:
Toll Roads Bay Area FasTrak Metro ExpressLanes 91 Express Lanes 405 Express Lanes Riverside Express SANDAG
If a driver receives a potential toll fraud text message, we recommend the following steps:
Don’t click on the link. Delete any fraudulent texts you receive. Verify your account on the provider’s legitimate website. File a complaint with the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, or State Department.
Drivers who may have already fallen prey to sophisticated scams are encouraged to protect their personal information and financial accounts and dispute charges they don’t recognize.
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