Stanley P. Brozana Jr., 72 – Served 37 Years as Orwigsburg Police Chief
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is warning of an ongoing smishing scam, a scam conducted via text (SMS) messaging.
The Canary has received this unsolicited text and hasn’t been on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in years. So, this scam is targeting no one in particular, even motorists that don’t use that roadway.
The text reads:
Final Reminder: Toll Payment Due Date is Drawing Nearer! You have an unpaid toll fee that needs to be settled by March 30, 2024. If you don’t pay, you might experience:
The suspension of your vehicle’s registration, and you’ll be in a real bind if you rely on your car for transportation.
Incurring financial penalties that can be a significant drain on your finances.
A negative impact on your credit score, which can limit your financial flexibility.
The text includes a suspect URL and then concludes: “Make the payment now to avoid these troubles. Thank you!”
The phone number which sent us the text message starts with the country code +44, which means it originated from the UK. However, that could be a spoofed number, but it’s a clear sign it’s a scam.
The Turnpike Commission is aware of this smishing scam. It reminds recipients of this message to not tap on the link or interact with the message. Several versions of this message are circulating, the Turnpike Commission says.
“People who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from the PA Turnpike or another toll/collection agency should not click on the link. E-ZPass account holders and Toll By Plate customers can use approved safe methods to check their accounts by calling 1-877-736-6727 (M-F, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or using the official PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app available from the Apple App Store, or Google Play store,” the Turnpike Commission says.
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