Last month, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a warning about the surge in toll road scams in 2024 — a trend we’ve reported on multiple times, with cases spanning from Illinois to San Francisco to Pennsylvania. A similar scam is now targeting toll road users in North Carolina. Scammers have created a fraudulent website, ncquickpasstollservices[.]com, falsely claiming to be linked to the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NC Quick Pass). This deceptive site is part of a sophisticated operation aimed at tricking individuals into paying fake toll charges and providing personal information.

How NC Quick Pass Toll Scam Works

The criminals behind ncquickpasstollservices[.]com are using “smishing“, a phishing tactic via SMS. They send text messages to unsuspecting drivers, falsely claiming they have unpaid toll invoices. These messages often threaten additional charges if the balance isn’t settled quickly. To make the scam more believable, the text includes a link to the fake website, where victims are prompted to submit a payment.

Smishing text templates to watch out for:

• “[NC QuickPass]: Your vehicle has an outstanding toll fee according to our records. To prevent an additional charge of $64.50, please pay the $6.19 balance at [website]”
• “North Carolina Tolls Services, our records indicate that your vehicle has an unpaid toll invoice. To avoid additional charges of $76.00, please settle your balance of $7.60 at [website]”

Once victims land on the fraudulent site, they are asked to share personal and financial details, which the scammers then exploit for identity theft and financial fraud. This could lead to stolen credit cards being maxed out, new fraudulent accounts being opened, false tax returns being filed, and other financial crimes carried out in the victim’s name.

How to Protect Yourself

If you receive a suspicious message demanding payment, avoid clicking on any links. Instead, contact the toll authority directly using official contact details from their verified website. Additionally, if you’re not expecting a charge, treat any unsolicited payment request with caution.

NC Quick Pass has confirmed it’s a scam, noting the scam number is Canadian and reminding users that they will never ask for payment via SMS. Furthermore, an NCTA text message will come from a short code, NOT a full phone number. A spokesperson added:

“Another thing to look out for, which I think everyone is probably aware of, is looking at the links that are included in any request or any messages. Anything from NC Quick Pass will be linked to either ncquickpass.com or secure.ncquickpass.com.”

Protect Yourself Against Phishing with Trend Micro Check

With the increasing number and sophistication of phishing scams, staying one step ahead is more crucial than ever. Unfortunately, antivirus software alone isn’t enough. Introducing the newly updated Trend Micro Check! Available for both Android and iOS, Trend Micro Check offers comprehensive protection from deceptive phishing scams, scam and spam text messages, deepfakes, and more:

• Scam Check: Instantly analyze emails, texts, URLs, screenshots, and phone numbers with our AI-powered scam detection technology. Stay secure and scam-free.
• SMS Filter & Call Block: Say goodbye to unwanted spam and scam calls and messages. Minimize daily disruptions and reinforce your defenses against phishing.
• Deepfake Scan: Detect deepfakes in real-time during video calls, alerting you if anyone is using AI face-swapping technology to alter their appearance.
• Web Guard: Surf the web safely, protected from malicious websites and annoying ads.

To download Trend Micro Check or to learn more, click the button below.

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