Virginia DMV warns of toll charge text scam

If you have received a text message about an alleged overdue toll charge, it's a scam.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is alerting customers about a new text scam through which fraudsters pose as toll agencies and falsely claim you owe money for unpaid tolls. 

In the text message, the scammers urgently tell you to pay a toll to avoid late fees and include a link in the message. But clicking that link could result in your personal information being stolen, making you a victim of this scam.

“The DMV will never send you text messages about toll bills,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey. “We urge our customers to be vigilant and avoid sending your personal information via text.”

Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to avoid falling for a text scam like this:

• Don’t click on any links in, or respond to, unexpected texts. Scammers want you to react quickly, but it’s best to stop and check it out.

• Check to see if the text is legit. Reach out to the state’s tolling agency using a phone number or website you know is real — not the info from the text.

• Report and delete unwanted text messages. Use your phone’s “report junk” option to report unwanted texts to your messaging app or forward them to 7726 (SPAM). Once you’ve checked it out and reported it, delete the text.

For details about Virginia’s toll facilities, access to your E-ZPass account, or concerns regarding a text message about toll payment, visit www.tollroadsinvirginia.com.