(WFSB) – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation warned motorists of a new scam that attempts to steal personal and financial information through fraudulent text messages.

MassDOT confirmed that it will never request payment via text message and urged customers to ignore and report suspicious messages.

In a scam known as “smishing,” fraudsters send text messages or emails pretending to come from a toll booth.

The notice typically states that a driver has an unpaid toll and that immediate payment is required to avoid late fees.

The scammers add a link to the message and try to trick recipients into entering personal and financial information.

Experts said the scammers are targeting people with phone numbers that appear to be connected to toll authorities.

However, they have no specific information about the targets and rely on the links to collect sensitive data.

MassDOT emphasized that it will never send toll invoices or other payment information via text message.

Customers were strongly discouraged from clicking on links sent from unknown numbers or email addresses.

MassDOT encourages anyone who receives a suspicious message to take the following steps:

• Do not click on links in the message.
• Do not respond or share personal information.
• If you have any doubts about the validity of a message, visit the official MA Toll website directly or call the Toll Authority at 877-627-7745 to verify.

For those who may have clicked on a fraudulent link, it is important to protect your personal information and dispute any unknown charges with the bank.

Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of the fraud can report it to the FBI via the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

MassDOT continued to warn the public to remain vigilant and protect their personal information from potential cyber threats.

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