SALT LAKE CITY — State officials are warning citizens about a revamped tolling scam that claims motorists have an unpaid balance. The Utah Department of Transportation reports scammers are using text messages that appear to be automated, as well as live phone calls, claiming to be directly from UDOT to mislead Utahns.
The scam was first detected earlier this year, but UDOT said spam attacks have ramped up in intensity and volume in recent days, with scammers even verbally berating callers unwilling to give them personal information. This week alone, UDOT’s main office has received more than 500 hundred inquiries asking about the validity of the texts and calls.
UDOT office specialist Tessie Lords said it’s heartbreaking because she has talked to several people who have believed this scam. The messages are convincing and people think they are doing the right thing by providing their information. She has talked to one gentleman who entered three different credit cards, and others who have given bank information and even their pin numbers.
In most all cases, there’s nothing UDOT or law enforcement can do except to ask victims to contact their banks immediately.
UDOT officials remind everyone that they do not send texts or make phone calls to collect tolling fees, and urge anyone that receives a message about an outstanding toll balance to not provide any payment information. If you receive a text, do not click on the link and block the sender. If you receive a phone call, hang up and block the caller.
While each scam call or text message may vary, several user-submitted reports show that the scammers are often:
- Using UDOT’s full name
- Claiming that the recipient has an outstanding toll that will result in legal action
- Urging that the fine must be paid quickly
- Inserting a link that has “utah.gov” included in it
If you have mistakenly provided payment, please immediately contact your credit card company or bank.