Scam alert: Toll texts target Arizona drivers
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A smishing text. Screenshot: Jessica Boehm/Axios
You likely don't owe any money to highway toll collectors — despite what your recent text messages might say.
The big picture: The messages, known as smishing, or Short Message Service (SMS) phishing, are happening nationwide. The sender disguises themselves as E-ZPass or a state tollway operator claiming the recipient has an unpaid toll.
- The goal is to get victims to pay or hand over their sensitive information (like driver's license, Social Security or bank account numbers) to the fraudster.
Zoom in: Although Arizona doesn't have toll roads, our neighbor California does, which could trigger concern for recent travelers.
- Some recent texts have claimed to be from the "Arizona Highway Department" or "AZDOT."
- Yes, but: The state's Department of Transportation says it will not text you about tolls.
State of play: Phishing scams have grown more convincing and "seem like they come from companies you know and trust, like your bank, your credit card company," Amy Bunn from McAfee wrote on the cyber security company's blog.
- "Scammers have leveled up their game in recent years," she wrote.
The intrigue: Arizonans reported losing nearly $145 million to various forms of fraud last year, per recent FTC data — up a staggering 20% from 2023.
- The spike, which mirrors a national trend, suggests that fraudsters are outpacing both law enforcement and efforts to educate consumers on how to protect themselves.
The bottom line: Attorney General Kris Mayes is encouraging Arizonans to delete the messages and never click on their links or respond.
- Beyond toll warnings, Mayes said other popular smishing attempts include bogus messages about job offers, package delivery and tax refunds.
- "Scam texts aren't just frustrating the hell out of Arizona consumers — bad actors are preying on Arizonans … in an attempt to steal their identity and their hard-earned savings," Mayes said in a press release.