Warning: Hudson Valley Police Share New E-ZPass Scam
Police in Fishkill are warning Hudson Valley commuters after a new scam targeting E-ZPass users has been uncovered in New York State.
There have been a frustratingly-high number of new scams in recent months. From criminals targeting local grandparents with false claims about their grandchild to fake text messages promising money from the IRS, it's hard to know who to trust.
E-ZPass Scam Hits the Hudson Valley
While claims about big windfalls and other outlandish claims might be easy to spot as fraudulent, scammers have become even more creative. This time, it's with a ploy about unpaid E-ZPass bills.
Scam Alert from Town of Fishkill Police
"SCAM ALERT" began a recent post by the Town of Fishkill Police Department on Facebook (below). "We have had several residents inform us that they are receiving fake test messages from someone claiming to be E-ZPass".
How New E-ZPass Scam Works
As with other similar schemes, the text contains a link that does not lead to its promised destination for E-ZPass users to pay their bill, but rather to an alternate website where scammers attempt to solicit information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, and more.
$40,000 PayPal Scam in Putnam County, NY
Unfortunately, these scams can have dramatic consequences. Recently, a Putnam County resident was tricked by criminals posing as PayPal customer support employees, leading to a theft of $40,000.
Some simple steps can help avoid other Hudson Valley residents from experiencing similar consequences. It can be helpful to contact a company directly through their website instead of clicking on a text link, for example, and financial institutions remind customers that they will never ask for personal information over text as well. See some more common scams below.
LOOK: The biggest scams today and how you can protect yourself from them
More From WRRV-WRRB
