FasTrak scammers are back with a new twist to trick drivers [View all]
A FasTrak scam that hit the Bay Area last month has returned with a slicker look, and a more sophisticated trap to draw money from unsuspecting drivers.
Over the past week, drivers throughout the Bay Area have received text messages from a sender posing as the region’s toll collector, directing them to one of several websites to pay FasTrak charges.
One such missive, sent to a reporter’s family member at 10:30 p.m. Thursday evening, cited “a $3.95 charge associated with your recent FasTrak Express Lanes activity. To avoid further penalties, settle the amount by March 23, 2024, via the link provided,” the message continued, offering a link to BayAreaFasTrak-express.com.
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February’s FasTrak scheme sent customers to a website registered in Hong Kong, but the new one has referred them to multiple fraudulent sites registered in different countries, including Hong Kong and Russia, said John Goodwin, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the regional body that makes planning and policy decisions for the Bay Area, and operates the seven state-run bridges.
Link (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/bay-area-fastrak-scam-19363141.php
From the link: Goodwin warned motorists to be suspicious of any text message they see asking for a FasTrak payment. FasTrak will never communicate with customers or ask for payment by text message, he said.
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