The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) is warning the public to beware of the smishing scam that’s plagued mobile phone users and toll operators throughout the US for months. Yesterday, text messages purporting to come from RITBA started circulating. The texts attempt to bilk recipients into paying a toll supposedly incurred during recent travel on “the Kansas toll road.” The messages link to a website that has a URL deceptively similar to RITBA’s actual E-ZPass website.
The authority advises customers to visit the authentic E-ZPass website if they wish to check their accounts and to report suspicious messages to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov. Customers can also forward suspicious text messages to 7726 (SPAM) to notify mobile providers.