Philadelphia Courts warned Saturday that a slick and aggressive text-message scam is rippling through the region, hitting residents with fake notices that claim they owe a Pennsylvania Turnpike toll and must either pay up immediately or show up in court. The bogus texts often come dressed up with an official-looking image and a QR code that is really there to grab your payment or account details, not to settle a bill. Court officials stress that the messages are fraudulent and should be ignored.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the texts pretend to come from the Traffic Division of Municipal Court and warn recipients that they must “pay the fine” or “appear in court,” often on an extremely tight deadline. Officials told NBC10 that people should not scan the QR code, click any links, or respond to the messages at all.
The First Judicial District’s scam advisory makes it clear that these texts are not coming from the courts and reminds the public that “the Court does not request or accept credit card information by telephone.” Philadelphia Courts also notes that any legitimate FJD text alert would be brief, so a long, highly detailed demand for money sent by text is a strong sign you are dealing with a scam.
Turnpike Warns About Toll Text Smishing
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has issued its own fraud alert describing a wave of “smishing” scams, where text messages pose as toll agencies and push people to clear up supposedly small outstanding tolls through links in the text. The Turnpike is urging drivers to use only the official E‑ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app and to steer clear of links in unsolicited messages, pointing out that the scam links are not connected to any Turnpike systems. The PA Turnpike Commission also lists specific steps customers can take if they think they have been targeted.
Federal Officials Say the Scam Is All Over
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported in an April 2024 public service announcement that it had logged more than 2,000 complaints about toll-related smishing texts that use nearly identical language and fake payment links. In that alert, IC3 recommends filing a complaint through its website, checking any accounts directly via official sites rather than through text links, and contacting your toll provider yourself instead of engaging with the message.
How to Protect Yourself
Experts say the safest move is simple: do not click links or scan QR codes in unsolicited texts, and do not share personal or financial information over the phone with anyone who contacted you out of the blue. You can forward suspicious messages to SPAM (7726) to help carriers block them, then verify any toll issues directly through your E‑ZPass account. If you still have questions, call the Turnpike’s E‑ZPass and Toll By Plate Customer Service Center at 877‑736‑6727. The fraud section of the PA Turnpike Commission site offers more detail on safe ways to pay.
If You Already Clicked or Paid
If you scanned the QR code or entered payment information, officials say your first call should be to your bank or card issuer so you can flag the issue and dispute any charges you do not recognize. Federal authorities also advise filing a report with IC3 and, if appropriate, the FTC so investigators can track the scam and, in some cases, work to recover funds. In its PSA, IC3 further recommends changing passwords and keeping a close eye on your credit reports for any unexpected activity.
Philadelphia Courts again stressed that they do not send payment demands by text and encouraged anyone who receives a suspicious notice to double-check it through official channels instead of reacting to a message on their phone. Contact information and scam advisories are posted on the Philadelphia Courts website, and officials say residents should reach out to local law enforcement if a message feels threatening or coercive.
