In a joint effort with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Florida Department of Transportation, Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a Consumer Alert to warn Floridians about a new smishing scam. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to individuals, alleging unpaid toll fees and providing links to settle these supposed debts. These links, however, are malicious and designed to steal victims' money.
"Cybercriminals are sending text messages to thousands of unsuspecting drivers in the hopes that some of them will be tricked into paying a toll fee for a violation that never occurred," said Attorney General Ashley Moody. "While this smishing scam is happening across the nation, our Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit worked closely with FDLE to shut down 10 fraudulent sites designed to mimic the official SunPass website and steal payments from drivers who received their fake text messages."
The FDLE's Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard added, "FDLE agents believe there could be hundreds of victims in Florida who received a fraudulent text message saying they owed money to SunPass. FDLE’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit was able to quickly seize the fraudulent websites, stopping the victimization."
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue also expressed gratitude for Moody's swift response. He emphasized that customer privacy and security are paramount concerns for his department.
To help protect against such scams, Attorney General Moody advises Floridians not to click on any links provided in unsolicited messages, especially those claiming to be from SunPass or FDOT; independently confirm information by contacting FDOT or SunPass directly; regularly check online toll accounts; avoid providing personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages; and register phone numbers at DoNotCall.gov.
Suspicious activity related to SunPass or E-ZPass can be reported at FDLE's Report a Cybercrime webpage.