BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The scam text making the rounds, urging people who use the Pennsylvania Turnpike to pay an unpaid toll invoice, has people talking.
“I got it! The website looked so much like the actual website,” said Courtney Derr, of the Lehigh Valley.
"I got it too and laughed because I don't have an EZ Pass,” said Felicia Fenstermaker, of Alburtis. “We just bought this car in March and haven't taken it on the Turnpike either, so I knew it was spam.”
The scam, which the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is warning people not to click on, is making the rounds on the internet and has people weighing in from across the state.
“I got that," said Nikki Ze, who also lives in the Lehigh Valley. “I was going to click it too, but I don’t follow links from email/text. I just look up the website and remember I have an EZ Pass and have it automatically add money when my account gets low.”
"The difference amounts are immediate red flags. “I would also add that any misspellings are also red flags.”Tina Blundetto
The text, from a 2-6-3 area code, claims the person receiving the message could owe $86 and the receiver should pay $8.60 to settle the debt. The message goes on to provide a link to click.
"The different amounts are immediate red flags,” Tina Blundetto, of Northampton. “I would also add that any misspellings are also red flags.”
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission did not send out this text and said do not click or pay money to the unauthorized site. The correct site to reach the PA Turnpike Commission or check an EZ Pass balance is www.paturnpike.com.
Similar scams have been reported by toll agencies across the country over the past several days, according to a statement from the PA Turnpike.
