Texas Department of Transportation has issued a warning about a scam involving residents who received text messages claiming to be from Texas toll agencies requesting payment.
The warning comes after mobile carriers reported a rise in scams using direct messaging to defraud people out of money.
The messages, which appear to come from the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) or TxTag, tell recipients they owe money for unpaid tolls and must pay immediately to avoid late fees or penalties. Many include a link directing users to what appears to be a payment site but is designed to collect personal or financial information.
A specialized unit of the Dallas Police Department (DPD) Financial Crimes Division, the Swindle Squad, has been assigned to investigate financial fraud offenses for DPD, including lotto, home improvement, traffic violations, jury duty, municipal court, and pigeon drop and switch scams. The unit also probes purchase order fraud, impersonating a public servant, and the exploitation of an elderly individual.
Officials from NTTA said they do not request payment through unsolicited text messages and encourage customers to verify account activity through official websites and secure accounts only.
City officials have emphasized that scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly and encourage residents to take a moment to verify any unexpected claims before responding.
Authorities recommend residents avoid clicking on any unverified links or responding to unexpected payment requests via text messages.
Instead, law enforcement suggests deleting suspicious messages, blocking the sender, and reporting the text as spam through mobile carriers.
NTTA customers can report suspicious activity at ntta.org.
Consumers who believe they may have provided personal or financial information should contact their bank or credit card company and monitor accounts for unauthorized activity. Incidents can also be reported to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
On DPD’s website, residents are advised to “Stay alert. When in doubt, verify directly with City of Dallas sources.”
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