SunPass scam warning!

[leebee]

On our way home from the airport after this weekend's trip to WDW, DD got a text message from SunPass. They told her there was a $19 toll charge on her account and to avoid being charged a $50 fine, she should call "this number" asap. Sometimes we rent a car in Orlando and take our EZPass transponder, and of course it doesn't always pick up toll charges. I mused about this on the way home (we didn't rent a car this time) but thought maybe it was from the trip DH and I took in January. I wasn't really worrying about it until it dawned on me: DD wasn't on that trip, how would they get her phone number, and the EZPass is in my name. I checked online, and sure enough, this is a SCAM. However, it sounded possible enough that I believed it, at first, until I thought about it. Please be aware!

 

[gottalovepluto]

good catch. Can you update your title to include the word SunPass so those who use it know this is for them? (I assumed it was some scammy driver service you were reporting.)

 

[leebee]

good catch. Can you update your title to include the word SunPass so those who use it know this is for them? (I assumed it was some scammy driver service you were reporting.)

Hi, I updated the title. I am not sure the origin of the scam as it went directly to DD's phone, which is what tipped me off when I thought about it. She has never rented a car in FL and the phone number on my EZPass account is DH's (I don't have a phone), so that's all pretty suspicious. However, the FL tolling system doesn't always pick up our EZPass, even mounted in the proper place, so at first it almost made sense that we were being billed for a missed toll... until I thought about it.

 

[erionm]

This toll scam is happening across the US.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Yes , this is big scam happening. I live in ORL so getting text/email about my sunpass is common. I have auto pay so I will never get a 'bill'. First time it happened, I just looked on app, saw all was good. Next day story in local media about this scam.
It would not be hard to realize the scam if you were not use to the sunpass system.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I will say for future, I have received actual toll bills in my spam mailbox after a enterprise rental using their transponder. Good call on not calling a number . Good catch

 

[erionm]

No legitimate toll agency should be sending a bill by text message. If they are going to send you a bill, it's going to be by USPS mail and it will most likely contain pictures taken of the vehicle as it went through the toll plaza.

 

[reddog21]

No legitimate toll agency should be sending a bill by text message. If they are going to send you a bill, it's going to be by USPS mail and it will most likely contain pictures taken of the vehicle as it went through the toll plaza.

This , it still baffles me that people would fall for this stuff. No legitimate business is going to text you and tell you to call a specific number. On top of that you should never call the number given look up the real customer service number and call that if your concerned.

 

[_19disnA]

I agree. I have never seen ANY legit company communicate billing issues/info via text. Telling you to call some OTHER number RIGHT AWAY should be another tipoff it is bogus. I get texts claiming to be from various shipping companies about some issue with one of my deliveries. When I currently have NOTHING on order, I know it is a scam and just ignore it. I seriously doubt FedEx/UPS/DHL sends texts if there is an actual delivery issue. Exactly what would they want to discuss with me? IF you want to call some company, ALWAYS go to their official website for contact/phone information.

If you get a suspicious email, you can always tell they are bogus when it is NOT from the company domain and uses some @gmail account that anyone can create.

 

[LilyWDW]

This is not just Sunpass. This is happening all over the country. IL DoT just sent out warnings about this.

 

[georgina]

No legitimate toll agency should be sending a bill by text message. If they are going to send you a bill, it's going to be by USPS mail and it will most likely contain pictures taken of the vehicle as it went through the toll plaza.

I agree, but a few days ago I got a text from a doctors group associated with radiology department from a major hospital where I had had an MRI, saying I had a residual bill. I did not click the link or call the number in the text, but looked up the number for this department on the hospital website (it was the actual number listed in the text). When I called, it turned out to be legit but I told them I will not pay a bill sent by text, send me an email at least or paper mail. It is a small copay, but I was suspicious since it did not show up in the hospital billing website. So bizarre.

 

[reddog21]

I agree, but a few days ago I got a text from a doctors group associated with radiology department from a major hospital where I had had an MRI, saying I had a residual bill. I did not click the link or call the number in the text, but looked up the number for this department on the hospital website (it was the actual number listed in the text). When I called, it turned out to be legit but I told them I will not pay a bill sent by text, send me an email at least or paper mail. It is a small copay, but I was suspicious since it did not show up in the hospital billing website. So bizarre.

As long as your looking for the number, not using the number given and never click a link you’ll be fine.

I agree some of the smaller companies are not paying attention to what hackers are targeting and sending emails/texts in the same way hackers are.

 

[elvispursley]

I get texts all the time from my healthcare providers letting me know I have a bill. I’ll log onto the website and pay via the website.

 

[AnnaS]

New scams everyday.......

 

[mikehn]

You shouldnt respond to ANY text message, unless it's from someone on your contact list. You can read the text, just dont respond. That memo came out a while ago. Apparently not everyone got it.

 

[tony67]

I get texts all the time from my healthcare providers letting me know I have a bill. I’ll log onto the website and pay via the website.

Yeah - pretty much always log in direct unless you are 100% sure .. and even then

This is not just Sunpass. This is happening all over the country. IL DoT just sent out warnings about this.

Yeah - I get messages from Illinois all the time - for the last few years - I've never even driven in Illinois.
Been to Chicago once for business and did not drive.

 

[DisneyTeacher]

I got a similar text a week or so ago. I was with a friend and we were using my portable SunPass in her car. A month later she got a text saying she needed to pay x amount to avoid a $50 fee. I watched all our tolls come off my account as we passed through and all was correct in my account so I questioned it in a SunPass app chat. They said they will never ask for money in a text.

 

[hertamaniac]

Just like others posted above, I get a picture of my car and toll booths I pass through in Florida via USPS mail (but I have been pay-by-plate). I just signed up for SunPass mini and will be curious how it will notify me of deductions (I have autopay replenishment). Of course, I can always log onto my account.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You shouldnt respond to ANY text message, unless it's from someone on your contact list. You can read the text, just dont respond. That memo came out a while ago. Apparently not everyone got it.

Unless it's political ones where you respond stop so they don't keep texting you. I only bother to do that every now and then but in the last 3 weeks time I had 3 political texts due to the August primary then in June I had two related to a local push regarding funding for sports arena/team. I wish those counted a robo calls but they don't. They are supposed to stop however if you send stop

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our state's DOT just recently went to cashless tolling, they did advise bills will either be charged to your account you set up ahead of time, to your toll tag you have with the state or mailed to you based on the license plate registration information if you don't have an account or a toll tag.

That said I don't think if you create an account with the state that is texts you the bill, you could see your amount owed on your account through the app (or log via the website) however and I agree it's unlikely many toll companies are texting actual bills due but there may be a time in the future that they would at least as an option if you opt in, that goes along with the times.