Thu Mar 20 17:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Nationwide Surge in Toll Fee Smishing Scams Costs Victims Millions
**San Francisco, CA** – A new wave of text message scams targeting Americans is causing significant financial losses and identity theft. The fraud, known as “smishing” (SMS phishing), uses text messages claiming unpaid highway toll fees to lure victims into revealing personal and financial information.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported over 60,000 complaints related to this specific scam in 2024 alone. The widespread adoption of cashless toll systems and mobile banking makes individuals particularly vulnerable. Scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics, with messages evolving frequently to evade detection.
“The scamsters kind of mutate every few weeks with different messages,” explained John Goodwin, assistant director of communications at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, noting the scam’s emergence in early February 2024 and its growing aggression.
The problem is exacerbated by the international nature of the perpetrators, making investigations challenging and requiring extensive international cooperation, according to J. Michael Skiba, a veteran cybercrime investigator. He also highlighted significant underreporting due to victim embarrassment or perceived insignificant losses. He believes the true cost of these scams is “astronomical.”
The FTC, FBI, state governments, and transit agencies nationwide are warning the public about this ongoing threat. Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious text messages immediately. The rise in smishing underscores the need for heightened awareness and proactive measures to protect oneself from increasingly sophisticated online fraud.
First Piper 