Do you have a suspicious e-zpass text? It’s a trap – how to spot the scam

A new “Shums scam” targets people with their personal information under the cover of unpaid tolls.

The crooks, supposed to come from E-ZPASS or other toll suppliers (such as Sunpass, Peach Pass or Ezdrivema), send fraudulent SMS requesting toll payments and exhorting the recipients to click on a link to settle their bills.

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Messages generally threaten that if the person does not pay their balance, they will be faced with consequences such as fines committed or losing their license entirely.

How to locate the E-ZPASS scam

Fortunately, the scam is not difficult to spot. The texts come from a random number or even from an e-mail address with a link with a suspect and shortened URL and insist that urgent measures must be taken to respond to the unpaid toll in question.

Like the text of the scam illustrated above, the crooks generally send text from a country code of +63 for the Philippines.

Texts also tend to require small payment amounts. The threatening and urgent tone of messages and the requirement of only small payments are effective strategies for crooks because toll payments are generally small amounts, and most people expect crooks to demand more.

But it’s not really about money; The crooks are after your identity. The false link will direct you to a site where the crooks scratch your personal and financial information for their own ends.

What to do if you get the E-ZPASS scam text

Do not click on any link. Report the text of the scam in the form of spam or garbage and delete the message.

If you have already clicked on the link and sent payment information, you must immediately contact your bank and your credit card companies to freeze or monitor your accounts. You should also consider freezing your credit as a general precaution to prevent crooks from opening accounts on your behalf.

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If you only clicked on the phishing link and you have not entered personal information, the Cybersecurity pros of NordVPN recommend putting your phone or laptop in plane mode, scanning it for malware, saving your data and changing your passwords. Learn more about their recommendations here.