EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — A warning from law enforcement regarding a text scam that 28/22 News has been tracking. It involves text messages that are supposedly sent by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Those who receive them are told they owe overdue tolls and face serious legal penalties if they don't immediately pay up.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials tell the I-Team the texts are becoming more threatening and the number of those texts being sent to Pennsylvanians is also increasing in a bigtime way. They are urging people not to fall for the scam.
"Different versions of the scam now that are really attempting to leverage fear to trick people into giving their personal and financial information," Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Press Secretary Marissa Orbanek said.
So they can access and steal your money. The scam surfaced last April and Turnpike Commission officials say it has intensified in recent weeks.
The text indicates that a person has unpaid tolls and if they are not paid immediately.
That person could face increased legal fees and possibly lose their driver's license. A link is provided in the text for people to make a payment.
28/22 News spoke recently with a Luzerne County woman who received scam texts and didn't know why she was getting them.
"I don't leave the area, so I know I don't have any tolls," said Sweet Valley resident Gina Traver.
"I think AI is making it easier for cybercriminals to really make their texts and their message more sophisticated text, so I think it looks authentic," Orbanek explained.
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"Does the Turnpike Commission send texts if you are in arrears of fines?" 28/22 News I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick asked.
"The Turnpike Commission nor any of our partners will text you with a direct link to pay a toll or fine that is not something we do. We do not text," Orbanek stated.
Turnpike officials say if you receive a scam text. do not respond, do not click on the link, and report the text to the FBI and local law enforcement.
Also, if you are not sure if you owe unpaid tolls, contact the Turnpike Commission directly.
