Important Advisory Regarding Nationwide Text Message and Email Phishing Scams

Metro ExpressLanes is warning the public about phishing text messages and emails being sent to their phones that mention FasTrak, Unpaid Tolls, Toll Violations, and/or Notice of Toll Evasion. 

How to spot phishing text messages and emails 

The message may contain one or even most of these indicators: 

  • If the text message is sent from an international phone number and requesting payment (for example, +63 (948) 453-000). 
  • The text is sent from an email address. 
  • The email is from an unknown sender. 
  • The text or email looks generic and does not contain any information about your vehicle or when you took the trip. 
  • The website address is very long and has extra letters behind the website name (The example is in bold letters https://www.websitename.net-tnx.win/pay). 
  • The message says, “reply with ‘Y’ to exit the SMS” The scammer is trying to bypass phone security features to get you to open the link to pay them. 
  • The message is trying to get you to pay in a hurry and threatens “irreversible consequences”.  
  • You are not a FasTrak accountholder.  Metro ExpressLanes does not send text messages or emails to people who use ExpressLanes without a FasTrak account.  

 

If you receive suspicious communication regarding Metro ExpressLanes: 

  • Do NOT click on any links. 
  • Do NOT reply to the text message or email, even with the message “STOP”.  
  • Report the message to your mobile carrier. 
  • If you are unsure of the validity of the communication, contact Metro ExpressLanes Customer Service at (877) 812-0022.   
  • In addition, please report it to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov.  
  • Lastly, block the number of the sender or report as spam and delete the message. 

 

You can find more information here about the toll road payment scams that are being sent nationwide.  

https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-governmental-affairs/how-spot-and-avoid-toll-road-payment-scam-texts 

 

Here is a sample of a Phishing Text Message

 

Below are additional resources to help protect yourself from phishing scam:

How to Recognize Other Types of Scams and Report Phishing Text Messages 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides helpful tips on how to recognize and report potential phishing text messages.  Visit the FTC at https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages. 

How to avoid being a victim of a phishing scam 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides helpful tips to help you avoid being a victim of a phishing attempt.  Visit the FCC at https://www.fcc.gov/avoid-temptation-smishing-scams for information on avoiding phishing scams. 

What to do if you responded and paid a phishing text  

If you paid a phishing text on a fraudulent website or over the phone via a credit or debit card, please contact your bank. If you provided personal information about yourself, please go to https://www.identitytheft.gov to report and create a recovery plan.