Michiganders, take note. Attorney General Dana Nessel is coming down hard on a new breed of smishing scams, those pesky text messages that masquerade as alerts about unpaid tolls from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The scam is straightforward: a text lands in your inbox, claiming you owe money for tolls and that this message is your "final reminder" before facing legal action—don't take the bait. Nessel is clear, "The Michigan Department of Transportation will not send you a text message demanding immediate payment for a toll," her warning highlighted in a recent press release.
The toll road smishing scam, like its government imposter counterparts, shares distinct features that should signal alarms for the savvy consumer, it is unsolicited, comes from an odd, lengthy phone number, pressures you to click a suspicious link, and has a certain urgency to it—coupled with the tell-tale signs of grammatical flubs and appealing promises of rewards for compliance. In response to these deceitful practices, Nessel advises a straightforward tactic: ignore and avoid providing any data or clicking through.
For those wondering what action to take when these smishing attempts rear their digital heads, there's a game plan. Utilize the spam-blocking options on your phones and report these texts by forwarding them to SPAM (7726); then go one step further to notify the Federal Trade Commission. Take comfort in knowing that legitimate government agencies have their modes of operation—they won't ask for personal information nor demand payment through non-traditional means like prepaid cards or crypto; all matters will be handled with due process, typically initiated through mailed notices, as the warning asserts.
If you've encountered one of these smishing texts, or any other consumer concern, know that there is recourse. Reach out to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team, they have a P.O. Box in Lansing, and you can dial them at 517-335-7599 or reach them toll-free at 877-765-8388, whatever fits your preference, they're there to back you in this digital age skirmish against smishing.
