Smishing Unpaid Toll Scam

Be cautious when sharing your personal information, especially with the rise of “smishing” scams — fraudulent text messages designed to trick you into giving up sensitive data like credit card numbers or personal details.

Even the most tech-savvy individuals can fall for these schemes. A common example: you receive a text claiming you owe money for an unpaid highway or interstate toll. The message may threaten late fees or legal consequences, urging you to act quickly by clicking a link.

Here’s how it typically happens: You’re on the go when a message pops up. It looks official — maybe even branded with a state agency logo — and it says you missed a toll payment. Wanting to avoid penalties, you quickly follow the link and enter your payment info on what appears to be a legitimate site. Only later do you realize it was a scam.

The key takeaway? Don’t click links you can’t verify, and never share personal or payment information in response to unsolicited messages. Scammers send out thousands of these texts hoping just a few people will take the bait — don’t let it be you.