The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants you to know they never text to request payment of outstanding toll bills.
Here’s an example of the message you may get on your phone:
Your vehicle has an unpaid toll bill. To avoid excessive late fees on your bill, please settle it promptly. Thank you for your cooperation!
Total amount: $6.99
Payment: https://ezdrivema.com-payngde.top/i
(Please reply Y, then exit the SMS and open it again to activate the link, or copy the link to your Safari browser and open it)
The department warns consumers about ongoing SMS phishing or so called “smishing” attacks designed to trick you into paying a nonexistent toll bill. The most recent communications mimic the look and logo of DriveEzMD. The department makes clear you should not share personal information or make any payments via these text messages.
To check any actual outstanding bills you should visit the official website: https://www.driveezmd.com. You can also use the DriveEzMD app or call their tollfree number 1-888-321-6824.
MDOT also suggests filing a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), www.ic3.gov. They ask you to include the phone number the text originated from, and the website included in the text. And delete any smishing texts you receive.
For more information, check out this public service announcement from MDOT.
