Look Out NJ, Here’s How To Tell That Text From EZ Pass Is A Scam

There's nothing more annoying than getting scam calls and texts, and it seems as though one scam in particular is really starting to cause problems. The EZ Pass Scam.

Odds are, you've gotten a lot of these scam messages, but maybe you're one of the lucky few who haven't, so you'll want to keep reading so you can stay vigilant.

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Scams Are On The Rise In New Jersey

Just the other week, we were talking about an AI scam that NJ was being warned about, where scammers would use AI voiceovers to impersonate high-ranking state officials and officers in order to steal your personal data.

More on that here.

Now, the NJ MVC is warning Jersey drivers not to fall for a scam that will make you think you've got unpaid EZ-Pass fines, and to the unaware eye, the scam is pretty convincing.

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The NJ MVC Warns NJ Drivers Of This EZ Pass Scam

If you look quickly, you could easily think you owe a lot of money in unpaid EZ Pass Fines, or that you'll be taken to court, or that you'll get your license suspended.

The scam is meant to confuse you and strike fear into your heart so you click a link and have your personal data stolen.

It doesn't matter what state you're in, or whether you have EZ Pass or not, look out for this text message:

This is what just one of the messages looks like; they're super long and contain a lot of information that may scare you into thinking you'll be in trouble.

I got 4 of these over the weekend while in Philly, but there are a few ways to tell it's a scam.

How To Tell If This EZ Pass Text Message Is A Scam

First things first; take a look at the link that the text wants you to click on:

The link doesn't go to a .GOV website, it's broken, and even has the word win in it, that alone is enough to tell you that if you click on that link, you'll likely get scammed out of some personal info.

Secondly, my car has been registered in New Jersey for 5 years, and so has my EZ Pass, another red flag.

Another thing to look at is the number the text comes from.

The ones that I receive have all come from a +63 962 817 2261 number, which is not a standard US phone number, it's not a standard international number, and when you Google that number, it pops up saying it could be a scam number.

How Does EZ Pass Alert You If You Have Unpaid Fines Or Fees?

The most important thing to remember is that, much like the US Government and the IRS, EZ Pass does its toll fines via the mail.

If you ever do have an unpaid fine, you'll get a letter from EZ Pass, not a text message.

So be vigilant, always use your blinker, and always double-check scammy text messages before clicking on any links.