PSA - Tolls Due

[BrokenolMarine]

Got a text yesterday from DMV.

The text stated that my ez pass toll was overdue and if I didn't settle the toll within 24 hours, I faced additional fines and the loss of my driving privlidges. I was to click on the link provided and pay the toll and included fine, or the fine would increase. The link was to an individual. For example: Michael.smith@logan.net/account.

Several things about the text rang warning bells:

1. Oklahoma doesn't have a DMV, we use the Department of Taxation. DOT. So the message would have come from the ODOT, in an Email not a TEXT.

2. Any overdue situation would come with a warning first, prior to any fines, and I would have received a warning that my EZpass account was low.

3. My EZpass automatically refreshes when it gets below a set balance and we rarely travel on toll roads so our balance remains high.

4. An Email from any DMV would include the STATE in the header, not just the initials DMV, for example VADMV.

5. If you were actually expected to pay the arrears, the link would send you to the government site, not a personal site, for example, tolls@VADMV.gov/payment

If someone not paying attention got this text, especially some elderly/easily frightened person, they are likely to click on the link and if the amount is not that high, pay the toll and fine and not give it a second thought. They have just paid a $25 fine and toll, but given their account information to a scammer. (Unless they paid by money order or gift card.)

I deleted the text, since I knew it was a scam. We have NOT been out of state, into a state that HAS a DMV and our licenses are issued by the ODOT.

Just another scam to be aware of.

[fortyshooter]

Same scam going on here in Richmond area. Only tolls in this area is the Powhite Expressway around Chesterfield and Richmond which I don't use and the 895 Express to the RIC Airport.

[Ernie]

Had several of these. Do not open them just delete. Also getting notices from USPS that a package is to be delivered but there is a problem with the address. Got one from Best Buy telling me a a warranty package had been automatically updated for one year with the money withdrawn from my debit card. Not. They are trying to steal your money all the time.

[dave77]

I got one of those, no toll roads anywhere close to me. They can send 1000's of these scam emails and and if even a very small number of people respond they've made money.

At least the spam filter on my phone is working well, I very rarely get spam calls anymore. I almost miss them, if I wasn't doing anything I'd lead them on until they figured out they were the one being spammed.

[daytime dave]

I got a similar one. An email basically the same too. I went onto my EZ Pass account and all was fine, so I chalked it up to scams.
There are so many scammers out there, it makes you think.

[Mags]

Warning about these have been in the news for at least a couple of months. I've gotten several as well. Oregon doesn't have toll roads. I call block the numbers these come from.

[BrokenolMarine]

I sent the information to the Attorney Generals Office to the section where you report scams. Miss Tina pulled up the deleted text for me and I took screen shots in case they need them. I then deleted it again...

[rickhem]

I get the PayPal messages, along with the "undeliverable package" messages, and a couple others I can't think of right now. There is a special place in hell for these d-bags.
My dad was scammed a couple times with these kind of things. Seems that they take a senior's desire to remain independent and facilitate a way for them to be "helped" by the scammer to resolve some made-up issue quickly, and without any further family involvement. And after that happens, you know the person that was scammed is on every list there is for suckers.
On one hand, I wish there was a way to track back to locate these people in-person.....but on the other hand, probably good that there isn't.

[cooperhawk]

When we were in Florida in early March the marques over the Interstates were flashing a message
that these texts were a scam and to ignore them. I received several, and I ignored them all.

[Sir Henry]

I’m getting texts all the time from IL. It’s confusing because I used their tolls two weeks ago and haven’t been invoiced yet. I called them and they said it might be a month after registrating a new plate.

[Hatchdog]

I get them too and like others have mentioned there are no tolls around here. I am traveling next month to a place on the Columbia river that as I understand it has a toll bridge. Can’t remember last time i paid a toll.

[RetiredSeabee]

I’ve been getting them for months. It would be nice if we could forward them to the folks who have been trying to contact me about my expiring car warranty.

[Mags]

I get them too and like others have mentioned there are no tolls around here. I am traveling next month to a place on the Columbia river that as I understand it has a toll bridge. Can’t remember last time i paid a toll.

Eastern Oregon/Washington border, both of the bridges at Hood River ($3.50 cash) and Cascade Locks ($3.00 cash) are toll bridges. If you have the electronic "BreezeBy" the tolls are 1/2 the cash price. For cash, they no longer have a Toll Booth. You can pay your toll online within 14 days of crossing or by cash/check at the Port office or 24/7 dropbox.

These three ... Dalles 197, Sam Hills 97 and I-82 bridges are toll free.

[Sir Henry]

I get them too and like others have mentioned there are no tolls around here. I am traveling next month to a place on the Columbia river that as I understand it has a toll bridge. Can’t remember last time i paid a toll.

Eastern Oregon/Washington border, both of the bridges at Hood River ($3.50 cash) and Cascade Locks ($3.00 cash) are toll bridges. If you have the electronic "BreezeBy" the tolls are 1/2 the cash price. For cash, they no longer have a Toll Booth. You can pay your toll online within 14 days of crossing or by cash/check at the Port office or 24/7 dropbox.

These three ... Dalles 197, Sam Hills 97 and I-82 bridges are toll free.

Does the Maple Street Bridge still have a toll? I can remember when it was a dime.

[Hatchdog]

I get them too and like others have mentioned there are no tolls around here. I am traveling next month to a place on the Columbia river that as I understand it has a toll bridge. Can’t remember last time i paid a toll.

Eastern Oregon/Washington border, both of the bridges at Hood River ($3.50 cash) and Cascade Locks ($3.00 cash) are toll bridges. If you have the electronic "BreezeBy" the tolls are 1/2 the cash price. For cash, they no longer have a Toll Booth. You can pay your toll online within 14 days of crossing or by cash/check at the Port office or 24/7 dropbox.

These three ... Dalles 197, Sam Hills 97 and I-82 bridges are toll free.

Does the Maple Street Bridge still have a toll? I can remember when it was a dime.

No the toll was removed many years ago as the bridge was paid for. You would never see a toll removal today just because the bridge was paid off!! I remember the dime toll too but by the time I was driving it went up to .25. Funny, one of the only times I ever heard my dad curse was once when he was throwing his dime into the basket he hit it and knocked it off the coin collector. He used that horrible word…..$h!t.

[Hatchdog]

I get them too and like others have mentioned there are no tolls around here. I am traveling next month to a place on the Columbia river that as I understand it has a toll bridge. Can’t remember last time i paid a toll.

Eastern Oregon/Washington border, both of the bridges at Hood River ($3.50 cash) and Cascade Locks ($3.00 cash) are toll bridges. If you have the electronic "BreezeBy" the tolls are 1/2 the cash price. For cash, they no longer have a Toll Booth. You can pay your toll online within 14 days of crossing or by cash/check at the Port office or 24/7 dropbox.

These three ... Dalles 197, Sam Hills 97 and I-82 bridges are toll free.

Thanks Mags, this is good to know as we’re staying on the Washington side of the Cascade Locks area. We’re planning on using the Oregon side for our arrival and departure plus I want to visit the Cascade Locks so we’ll be paying some tolls. I expected a toll booth so I’ll look into BreezeBy.

[The Wiz]

I’m getting texts all the time from IL. It’s confusing because I used their tolls two weeks ago and haven’t been invoiced yet. I called them and they said it might be a month after registrating a new plate.

Me too.

[CT_Shooter]

I occasionally get an email phishing attack, but those are rare. So far, I've been really lucky with my cell phone. I don't get any spam texts or calls on it, which is very likely because I only give it to family and friends. Everyone else, including Drs. and businesses/orgs that might share or sell data, gets my landline/answering machine with caller ID. If I don't know the caller, I don't answer the phone. I actually get several calls per day on that phone, but rarely is there a message to delete.

I'm hoping my good luck lasts for a while longer, but I know it won't be forever. There will be a "toll" to pay.

[dave77]

All of a sudden I was getting I was getting a lot of spam calls on my T-Mobile phone. They have a spam blocking app on their site that does a very good job blocking spam calls. It's free and no charge for using it, there is a small monthly charge for the advanced version but the free one does everything I need. Also I can change my phone settings to only allow calls from numbers that are in my contact list although I haven't found it necessary to use it yet.

[Luv the lever]

New warning, scammers are using AI to imitate a loved one’s voice to ask for help. If you get a call hang up and call your friend/family/person back on their own phone.