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--Officers spoke to a person by phone at 9:33 p.m. Wednesday for a report of fraud. The caller advised that they received a text message claiming a fee for the turnpike needed paid and that after clicking on the link and paying the amount demanded the caller discovered the text was fraudulent. The credit card company for the card used was contacted and needed the caller to file a police report. A report number was provided.
Fraudsters, being the conniving thieves that they are, have apparently taken their con game on the road. At least in a figurative sense.
The paragraph leading off this column, is straight from a police report published Monday in the three Columbiana County Newspapers.
Using a turnpike reference as a source for fraud is a new one to us. And we've heard and printed so many as you likely have read on our blotter pages on a regular basis. But it is happening.
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is reminding toll customers as well as mobile device owners everywhere to be aware of a resurgence in fraudulent texts from scammers requesting payment for unpaid tolls through fake websites.
According to the commission, the Ohio Turnpike does not request its E-ZPass customers to make payments by text. Collections of unpaid tolls and/or toll violations do not occur by text either.
The only website links associated with the Ohio Turnpike's E-ZPass accounts are ezpassoh.com and ohioturnpike.org.
Customers are encouraged to stay alert to these "smishing" and "phishing" scams by text and email, respectively.
Mobile device owners who receive suspicious tolling text messages should delete them without clicking on the link. This is regardless of who the texter is. We've heard stories about bogus "cable" outlets trying to scam residents. And if you ever get a call or text from someone claiming to be an IRS or Social Security Administration agent, hang up.
Anyone who may have clicked on a fraudulent link and provided any personally identifiable information should immediately contact their bank or credit card provider to secure their information and financial accounts.
Victims of tolling text scams should file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the text.
Fraudsters are soulless creeps whose end game is to take advantage of hard-working, honest-to-a-fault folks like that vast, vast majority of us are. For all the bountiful good that the tech age has brought, cyber criminals are gleefully along for the ride. It will never end so please be vigilant