It’s a scam! Maryland will never send you a text about toll debt. (MDOT)
Attention all Marylanders! The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) urges all toll customers to stay alert as smishing scams targeting Marylanders have been rising across the region. Just what are these scams and what do the messages look like? These fraudulent text messages claim to come from DriveEzMD or E-ZPass and attempt to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links or providing sensitive personal information.
Recent reports show scammers are sending messages like the following:
“EZ Pass Alert: You owe $12.75 in unpaid tolls. Resolve now to avoid penalties: [fake link]”
Sample Smishing Text Message. (Courtesy MDTA)
These messages may spoof a real phone number or appear as part of a conversation thread to look more convincing. However, they are not from MDTA or DriveEzMD.
To keep you safe and raise awareness, let’s bust some myths you may have heard floating around about those suspicious text messages.
Myth #1: If it has the DriveEzMD or E-ZPass logo, it must be real.
Fact: Scammers can copy logos and design legit-looking texts. Always verify through official DriveEzMD channels.
Myth #2: “I don’t even have E-ZPass or use toll facilities, so this isn’t my problem.”
Fact: Scammers send these texts to random numbers. Even if you don’t have an account, you could still get targeted or asked by a family member about it.
Myth #3: “It’s just a text – what’s the worst that could happen?”
Fact: Clicking that link could install malware or lead to identity theft. The risks are very real.
Myth #4: “DriveEzMD will text me if there’s an urgent issue.”
Fact: Nope! DriveEzMD Maryland never contacts customers via text to ask for payment or personal information.
Myth #5: If the link looks “kind of” right, it’s probably okay.
Fact: Scam links often mimic the real ones, with one letter off or a slightly different domain. Better to skip it and type the real website yourself.
Bottom Line: When in doubt, throw it out. Trust your gut, don’t click strange links, and contact DriveEzMD by visiting DriveEzMD.com, calling 1-888-321-6824, or stopping by one of our Customer Service Centers.
Share this information with your friends and family, stay alert and let’s keep our inboxes (and highways) scam-free. 💪
Click this link to watch a video about the smishing scam: vimeo.com/1093181233/838fe978f0
Briana McEachern is the Press Secretary at the Maryland Transportation Authority.