California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a warning to drivers about a rise in text-based toll scam activity. The fraudulent texts claim that consumers owe FasTrak express lane or toll charges and direct them to a website for payment. These scams aim to trick individuals into providing their banking or credit card information under the guise of representing tolling agencies.
Attorney General Bonta advises Californians not to click on links in texts that appear to notify them of overdue toll charges. He stated, "Scammers have become skilled at imitating legitimate companies, sometimes even linking to legitimate websites. Text-based toll charge scams are prevalent right now and knowing what to look for can keep consumers safe against these tactics."
The majority of these scams falsely claim association with FasTrak and link users to a fraudulent website pretending to be operated by The Toll Roads. It is important to note that The Toll Roads and other California tolling agencies do not send text messages to non-accountholders.
FasTrak is an electronic toll collection system used across California's tolled bridges, lanes, and roads, allowing drivers to pay electronically without stopping at booths. FasTrak does not request payments via text with website links. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which operates The Toll Roads in Orange County, advises accountholders to verify any text notifications by logging into their account through official channels.
Consumers are urged to follow several steps if they receive a potential toll scam text:
1. Do not click on the link.
2. File complaints with the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, and the Attorney General's office, including details such as the originating phone number and listed website.
3. Delete any received scam texts.
4. Verify accounts using legitimate websites provided by the respective toll services.
For further protection of personal information and financial accounts, individuals who have clicked on suspicious links or shared their information should take measures to secure their data and dispute any unfamiliar charges.
To report a text-based scam directly to the Attorney General's office, visit oag.ca.gov/contact/general-contact-form.