It could be EZ to fall for this.
State transportation officers are warning motorists to not be taken in by an E-ZPass rip-off that’s been making the rounds for the reason that MTA’s controversial congestion pricing plan hit the Massive Apple final month.
The scammers ship textual content messages that declare to be official, citing an “unpaid toll bill” and warning that except the invoice is paid quickly drivers may face “extreme late charges in your invoice.”
Transportation officers are warning residents to not fall for it.
“We now have not too long ago realized of a SMS textual content message rip-off being introduced as an try to gather tolls for the Congestion Aid Zone, formally generally known as the Central Enterprise District Tolling Program,” an alert on the official E-ZPass web site reads.
“A few of these messages reference the ‘NY Toll Companies’” whereas others are utilizing different fictitious names,” the alert says. “Please be suggested that is NOT a certified communication from EZPass or the toll companies related to EZPass.
“We advise you NOT to entry the web site contained inside the message in case you ought to obtain one.”
The rip-off seems to attempt to reap the benefits of the rollout of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing plan, which launched on Jan. 5, inflicting frustration and confusion amongst drivers who motor into Manhattan.
The state-sponsored plan slaps a $9 toll on vehicles coming into Manhattan under 61st Road throughout peak hours with a purpose to ease Midtown congestion and lift cash for MTA capital tasks.
The scammers at the moment are making an attempt to take one other chunk out of drivers’ wallets.
“My hope was the MTA would challenge a warning through electronic mail to all E-ZPass customers to watch out for rip-off texts and never click on any such hyperlinks,” Corey Bearak, senior coverage advisor for the group Hold NYC Congestion Tax Free instructed The Publish on Wednesday.
“To this point that has not occurred,” Bearak mentioned. “Is the MTA too busy planning to clarify why they fail to disclose Congestion Pricing Tax revenues?”
Different transportation companies and authorities that function with E-ZPass have additionally issued warnings, together with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York State Thruway Authority.
One other warning got here from Westchester County DA Susan Cacace this week.
In the meantime, E-ZPass is advising potential rip-off victims to take motion.
Transportation officers famous that the true E-ZPass won’t ever ask for “personally identifiable data” like a social safety quantity or perhaps a date of delivery, the discover mentioned.
“Actual communications from E-ZPass New York will solely refer prospects to the next official web sites: EZPassNYcom and TollsByMailY.com,” the E-ZPass alert mentioned. “In case you obtain this fraudulent SMS and want to file a grievance with the FBI’s Web Crime Criticism Middle go to http://www.ic3.gov.”;
The MTA did mot instantly reply to a request for remark.
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