CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 Chicago I-Team has a warning about tollway scams inundating phones recently.
Tech security experts said the tollway texts are a problem nationwide, but they are hitting the Chicago area even harder.
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The texts are flooding the phones of ABC7 employees.
The scam text says you have an “I-PASS Toll Violation Notice: This is a final reminder regarding an outstanding toll balance on your account.”
The text then asks you to click a link to pay, but if you look closely at the link, it’s not an Illinois Tollway link; it’s fake.
“A message might inform you that you’ve been tracked on a toll road and must pay immediately to avoid suspension of your driving license,” explained Steve Grobman, the chief technology officer at McAfee. “These scammers are aware that many people regularly use toll roads.”
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Grobman and his team of cybersecurity experts are currently closely monitoring various threats targeting phones and email accounts, with the tollway scam ranking as one of the most prevalent.
“The toll scam is particularly widespread right now. Our customers are reporting a significant increase in these incidents, especially in local communities across the United States,” Grobman highlighted.
If you do click on the fake link, scammers can install malware on your device. If you give up payment information, the criminals can charge your credit or debit card.
The Illinois Tollway website is also warning drivers, saying the texts are not legitimate.
The Illinois Tollway said if you do receive a billing text, you should check your account online independently, without clicking on links sent to you.
You can also call the tollway’s customer service center at 1-800-UC-IPASS.
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