It will come as no surprise that another popular toll scam has surfaced this week, this time targeting motorists nationwide. To learn everything you need to know about this City Department of Transportation toll scam and how to stay safe, keep reading.

Understanding Toll Scams

Scammers send messages containing links to fraudulent websites, urging potential victims to click and pay a bogus outstanding toll. These websites are designed to steal any sensitive information entered onto them. By playing on the fear of what may happen if you don’t pay the toll, scammers aim to trick you into providing your personal details.

City Department of Transportation Scam

Unlike many other toll scams that target drivers in specific states, this scam is very generic, appearing to come from the vague-sounding “City Department of Transportation.” It threatens drivers with a court summons if they do not pay the fee by a certain date. Here’s what the scam text looks like:

Content of the CDOT scam:

• City Department of Transportation Final warning: $6.99 owed. Must pay by 03/17 to close case or face court summons. Settle now: <URL> Thank you for your cooperation.

City Department of Transportation Scam: How to Stay Safe

If you mistakenly provide your information on a bogus toll scam site, scammers could potentially commit financial fraud or identity theft under your name. If you receive any unexpected payment requests, the best practice is to directly contact the purported source through official channels. Generally, if you weren’t anticipating a charge, consider it suspicious.

• Stay Cautious: If you receive such a text, pause and verify its legitimacy. Legitimate companies or government agencies will never ask for payment via text message.
• Use Trend Micro ScamCheck: With ScamCheck, you don’t need to question whether texts are legitimate or scams, because ScamCheck’s SMS Filter feature blocks scam and spam texts before they hit your inbox, giving you complete peace of mind.
• Check Official Sources: Visit the official website directly (not through any links in the text message).
• Report Scams: If you encounter a scam, report it to the relevant authorities.

If you’ve made a payment already, you should contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report the charges.

ScamCheck: Your All-in-One Defense Against Scams

Available for both Android and iOS, ScamCheck 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. Here’s what Scam Check thinks of the City Department of Transportation scam text:

• SMS Filter & Call Block: Say goodbye to unwanted spam and scam calls and messages. Minimize daily disruptions and reinforce your defenses against phishing.
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To download Trend Micro ScamCheck or to learn more, click the button below.

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