Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has reissued a consumer alert from May, warning residents about a recent smishing scam targeting toll road users. The scam involves deceptive text messages claiming the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls from SunPass, a Florida-based electronic toll collection system. The fraudulent texts also threaten a $50 late fee if the balance is not settled immediately. It is important to note that SunPass does not send such messages.
“Scammers craft these messages with links designed to steal consumers’ personal and financial information,” said Nessel. “It’s important for residents to recognize the signs of smishing texts so they aren’t duped out of their hard-earned money.”
Consumers may have received a smishing text if it:
- Is unsolicited.
- Is sent from an unusually long phone number (10 or more digits).
- Includes a link that is likely shortened or scrambled.
- Is written with a sense of urgency.
- Contains grammatical and spelling errors.
- Promises a reward or prize if you respond or click a link.
- Requests personal or financial information.
Residents are advised not to reply to suspicious texts or click on any links or attachments within them. Instead, they should use built-in spam-blocking tools on their mobile devices. Smishing texts can be reported by forwarding them to SPAM (7726) and sending them to the Federal Trade Commission.
To file a complaint with the Attorney General's office or obtain additional information, contact:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form