The reality of any industry is that scams are always out there, which is why, if you are running a fleet, you need to have a proactive approach in place to reduce the risk of being scammed. Toll scams for fleets often show up as an innocent-looking text or email notification referencing an unpaid toll or an invoice that needs to be paid. If a fleet is working with multiple toll crossings and various tolling authorities, then these scams can easily slip into the stack of payments and even go undetected.
Both drivers and fleet managers could be at risk for toll scams. With one click on a link, a person could expose the company card or phone. In this article, we explain more about the most common scams that affect fleets and what your team can do to avoid these issues.
The Toll Text Scam Every Fleet Manager Should Know
One of the most common toll scams for fleets that is circulating right now involves a simple text message that says there is a small, unpaid toll that needs to be paid. Since drivers and fleet managers want to avoid fees and late penalties, they click the link in the message…which takes them to a fake payment page that is designed to steal credit card information.
Here’s the most important thing to keep in mind: you can identify an unpaid toll text scam by remembering that toll agencies don’t text a link to collect payments. When you receive real notices, they typically come through email, the postal service, or you receive a notification in your online account.
The scammers send these text messages in bulk. They include details that make it look like a real notification, such as using your state’s toll agency name. Just because the information looks correct doesn’t mean that the link is coming from a trusted source.
Why Fleets Are Bigger Targets Than Individual Drivers
While both individuals and fleets can be targeted, it’s more common for fleets to get scammed. This likelihood is due to the fact that there are more drivers and phones, which increases the chances of a link making it through and being clicked on by someone on the team.
Also, the fact that fleets run in multiple states and are often working with different toll agencies means there’s a higher possibility that a fake charge might look real since it blends in with all of the other notifications that are coming through.
To make matters worse, when drivers click a link while logged into work accounts, it can create a domino effect of other information that the scammer can reach by breaching the phone and/or account.
How to Tell a Real Toll Notice from a Scam
Here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid toll scams for fleets:
- Watch Out for Red Flags: Some of the most common signs that you are dealing with a scam (and not a real notice) include urgent threats in the messaging, the notice coming from a number that you don’t recognize, and the URL links not matching the tolling agency’s real website.
- Double-Check the Source: If you receive a notification and you suspect that it is a toll scam, then avoid clicking on the link or calling a phone number in the message. Instead, log in to your account or call the number that is listed on your real toll statement. Reach out to the tolling authority directly and ask about any unpaid tolls that need to be handled.
- Reconcile the Toll Charges: Take a look at the fake claim information and see if the toll passing is listed in your toll account. If you don’t see an outstanding balance in your account, then it’s likely that the late payment notification is fake.
Other Variations of Toll Scams for Fleets
While the text message scam is one of the most common scams circulating among fleets lately, there are a few other variations that you should always watch out for. Scammers are always looking for ways to take you to a fake payment page. Sometimes, the fake links come through other contact methods, such as scammers who reach out via:
- Voicemails
- QR codes
Regardless of where the link came from, always be cautious about clicking on something if you can’t verify the sender’s authenticity.
What to Do If a Driver Already Clicked on a Scam Link
Follow these steps if you think that you might already have a scam breach:
- Close the link immediately
- Run a security scan on the device
- If credit card details were entered, then contact the card issuer immediately to cancel and replace that card.
- Toll scams for fleets can be reported to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, the FBI’s IC3, and the text can be forwarded to 7726.
Proactive Steps for Fleet Toll Fraud Protection
Not only should all drivers and office admin staff be well-trained on potential scams and how to avoid them, but they should also make sure that all devices are protected. For example, phones, computers, and other devices should have updated software and a mobile security app to reduce the risk of being scammed.
Drivers should be trained that these types of texts should be ignored. If these scam texts come through, then report them to dispatch instead of clicking on the link. Have a clear reporting system in place and reassure drivers that the company would rather have multiple false alarms instead of missing a real security incident.
FAQs
How do I know if a toll text is a scam?
If a text is demanding immediate payment through a link, then always treat it like a scam. Instead, check your account through the agency’s real/verified website to see your current account status.
Do toll agencies ever text payment requests?
Most toll agencies send invoices and notifications through email or other forms of communication. If you get a text with a payment link, then it is likely a scam.
Protect Your Fleet Before the Next Scam Pops Up
One of the best solutions for identifying fake charges is to use centralized visibility for all of your toll charges. When the invoices, transponders, and statements are organized in one place (and reconciled regularly), the fake charges will stand out more quickly.
At Innovation Toll Solutions, we are here to help. Our dashboard shows all tolling activity, and we have security systems in place to ensure that accounts are verified. For more information about fleet toll management, contact us today.