Text Scam Targeting EZ Pass Users
It seems like there’s a new scam almost every day, doesn’t it? The new scam we’re hearing of lately is a text message scam targeting EZ Pass users in New Jersey. The scam’s only intent is to steal your credit or banking information.
This new scam targeting EZ Pass users in NJ is creating issues because the Turnpike Authority says they’re getting a lot of complaints about it from people who were fooled.
What The Scam Targeting EZ Pass Users Looks Like
The Turnpike Authority says that the text scam trying to steal your bank or credit card information looks like any other text message you may receive. The language and spacing varies a bit but each version of the scam says claims to be from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and that you “must pay a toll balance or risk late fees”. A link is provided for the recipient to use to “pay the balance now”.
Of course, anyone who clicked the link was scammed. Even if the user didn’t fill in any banking information, it’s possible that clicking the link downloaded a phishing scam to your device.
What EZ Pass Says About The Scam
In a press release, EZ Pass and the NJ Turnpike Authority say that they “never use text messaging” to remind members of a past-due balance. Instead, they use good, old-fashioned snail mail to notify users of an overdue balance.
If You Clicked The Link In The Link Targeting EZ Pass Users
If you clicked the link that was included in the text message scam targeting EZ Pass users you should immediately contact your bank and credit card companies to ask them to check for any unauthorized charges. You may also consider changing all your important passwords (banks, credit cards, email, etc) in case your device had malware placed on it. If you access your work via the device, you should likely immediately contact your IT manager and disconnect the device from any work-related network.
You should also sharpen your scam-detection brain cells, because… damn…. this one didn’t seem too hard to detect.
Staying smart when it comes to protecting your digital footprint takes effort and patience. So does finding a great sandwich shop! Fortunately, we have this list of great local places for a great sandwich.