Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Getting out-of-town for a few days is what makes us all look forward to the summer months every year. Unfortunately this summer has brought out some unwanted attention as a result. We’re urging everyone to beware of a new scam targeting E-Z Pass customers this summer.
Here is what to watch for: An email that appears to be from E-Z Pass, which has the E-Z Pass logo and says you owe money for driving on a toll road. It also provides a link to click for your invoice. Don’t Click It.
The email isn’t from E-Z Pass. By clicking on the link, hackers may be putting something onto your computer with the goal of extracting personal information. By responding to this e-mail and clicking on the link, you could make yourself vulnerable to identity theft.
This E-Z Pass scam is one of the latest phishing scams, whereby criminals pretend to be legitimate businesses to gain access to your personal information.
Here are a few online security tips to help you avoid phishing scams:
- Never click on links in emails unless you’re sure who sent you the message.
- Don’t respond to any emails that ask for personal or financial information. Email isn’t a secure way to send that information.
- Type an organization’s URL yourself, and don’t send personal or financial information unless the URL begins with https (the “s” stands for secure).
- If an email looks like it is from E-Z Pass, contact E-Z Pass customer service to confirm that it is really from them.
- Keep your computer security software current.
If you believe you have received one of these e-mails, forward it to spam@uce.gov and to the company being falsely portrayed in the e-mail. Additionally, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by visiting at ftc.gov/complaint
. For more information you can also visit ftc.gov/idtheft
.
Please have a safe and enjoyable remainder of the summer.
