New E-ZPass Scam Targets Mass. Drivers
BOSTON (CBS) - E-ZPass is warning of a new scam targeting toll road drivers.
Bob Dziadosz did a double take when he got an email over the weekend claiming to be from E-ZPass.
The notice said he owed money for unpaid tolls. Because Bob knew he hadn't driven on any toll roads recently, he deleted the email. But he was struck by how real it looked and how easily it might trick others.
"It had E-ZPass on it. It had the logo," he said. "You could look at it and say, 'yeah I might have been on that road', click on it and somebody's picking up some money that they shouldn't be picking up."
E-ZPass now has a warning on their website about this new phishing scam. MassDOT says area drivers are just starting to see the emails.
The scam comes at a time when MassDOT is working to sign up thousands of people for E-ZPass as the Highway Department moves to open road tolling.
More than 40,000 new E-ZPass users signed up in just eight weeks this year and with the Tobin Bridge now on a no cash tolling system, that number keeps growing.
"We could have some people who are unfamiliar," said Highway Administrator Frank DePaola of the possibility that these new users might be more susceptible to scams.
MassDOT is keeping an eye on the complaints and they say there is one easy rule of thumb for drivers.
"We do not use email to send bills or to notify people that they owe money," said DePaola. "People should know if they get an email asking for money from E-ZPass it is a scam."
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