Don't get scammed: MnDOT says those "final notice" E-ZPass texts are fake

• The messages warn that failure to pay could result in the user being "penalized or subject to legal action."

What they're saying: "It is a scam," MnDOT spokesperson Anne Meyer told Axios. "MnDOT E-ZPass would not reach out to you via text on any level to receive payment from you."

Between the lines: Meyer said reports of the E-ZPass scams, which have been circulating in Minnesota for at least a year, typically pick up around peak travel times.

• MnDOT officials suspect the recent spike—and the first-time use of its name in scam texts and payment links—may be tied to spring break season.

The bottom line: "Don't click the link," Meyer said.

Zoom out: Americans lost billions more to fraud last year