Scamming is an unfortunate situation, and you have to be on the lookout for it nearly everywhere you go, no matter what you do.
©Visit Florida
Even some of the most careful people in the world have gotten scammed, and it’s by no fault of their own. Older adults are often targeted for phone scams, some of them using frightening technology to sound like a loved one is in trouble and needs money, but sometimes text scams are even more dangerous because they can easily seem real. Many Florida residents and those who travel to Florida frequently have been dealing with a SunPass toll scam, but it’s just been reported that those fraudulent sites have been shut down.
WSTP has reported that the Florida Attorney General’s office has now shut down hundreds of fraudulent SunPass toll websites that were being used to scam unsuspecting travelers out of their financial and personal information. SunPass users reported receiving fake SunPass text messages, telling them they must pay their tolls ASAP or face serious consequences.
Welcome to Florida
Inside the text message was a link that took customers to a fake SunPass website to “pay their tolls.” Here, customers would put in their personal and financial information, allowing the scammers to use it as they please. Florida authorities have been working for months to put an end to these scam sites to “protect consumers.”
©SunPass
It’s always possible that new sites could pop up, so if you receive an email, text, or phone call from “SunPass” claiming you have tolls that need to be paid, it’s best to first contact SunPass or E-ZPass at their official Customer Service numbers, which you can find on their websites, linked above. You can also sign into your SunPass or E-ZPass portal the way you normally do and see if you have an unpaid toll.
©E-ZPass
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to determining scams of any kind — if the message threatens near-immediate, scary consequences, it’s most likely a scam. We know it’s hard not to fall for it sometimes — when you’re being told there’s a risk you could be penalized and be “forced” to pay MORE money, that’s certainly concerning, and you may want to solve it as quick as possible. However, it’s always important to verify the source first.
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The must have missed one because I got a text today.
I haven’t gotten anything from FL but i got one from Massachussetts the other day. I Googled the website for the real toll system (did NOT click on the link but actually checked the site it was saying it was from) and saw it was from MA but I’ve never been to MA. Some scammers just think everyone is going to fall for it.