Got a text about unpaid tolls? Its probably a scam

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning about a prevalent scam where individuals receive unsolicited texts claiming they owe money for unpaid tolls. These messages often appear legitimate, displaying specific dollar amounts and links for immediate payment, which are actually phishing attempts. By clicking these links, victims risk having their personal information stolen, including financial details and identity credentials. To safeguard against these scams, the FTC advises recipients to refrain from clicking on any links or responding to unexpected messages. Instead, they should verify the legitimacy of the communication by contacting the tolling agency directly through official channels.

In Washington state, for instance, residents can refer to the Good To Go website for accurate information. Additionally, the FTC encourages users to report any suspicious texts as junk or spam and to delete them after reporting. For further insights on identifying and avoiding text scams, the FTC's website at ftc. gov/textscams provides valuable resources.