BOSTON — A texting scam targeting drivers in Massachusetts has done just that surfaced again. It claims drivers are owed money for unpaid E-ZPass tolls through EZDriveMA.
The scam first appeared in June and recently increased again during the holidays, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
EZDriveMA scam – how it works
The scammers target drivers that “smishing” where they send a text or email stating that they are part of the toll agency. They claim that a driver has an unpaid toll and must pay their bill via a provided link before being charged any fines.
“They’re really playing on your psyche and asking you to make sure you avoid these charges and try to do the right thing. And unfortunately, it really gets people involved,” MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told WBZ-TV on Friday.
MassDOT urges customers never to click on links sent by unknown numbers or emails. They emphasized that they will do so never send an invoice or other information via text message.
CBS Boston
Gulliver says the scam targets people with phone numbers near toll authorities. The scammers have no specific information about their targets, but hope to obtain personal and financial information through the link. He said he personally received one of the messages.
Dartmouth police warned residents that the scam was making the rounds again, saying an officer personally received one of the messages.
What should you do if you receive a scam text message?
If you think you have received a scam text message, officials say you should not click on any links, respond to the message or provide any personal information. They advise people to ignore the message completely and delete it before interacting with it.
If you are concerned about a message, you can validate its authenticity by going directly to the toll website or by calling the toll authority at 877-627-7745.
If you have already clicked on a link, MassDOT recommends that you take precautions to safeguard your financial and personal information and dispute any unknown charges through your bank.
“The first thing you should do: don’t call us. Call your bank or your credit card. If you’ve already given them some information, make sure you pause the account you have. Work with their fraud unit to to make sure you don’t expose yourself to anything else,” Gulliver said.
If you think you have received one of these scam text messages, you can file a complaint with the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICC).
Previous E-ZPass scam
This type of “smishing” scam took off in Massachusetts in 2024. The scam also included an invoice advising people to pay an overdue EZDriveMa bill via a provided link.
A retired FBI agent said the scam was successful because small amounts of cash were collected and people may not have been aware they had passed a toll.
