Bay Area drivers should watch out for a scam that’s popping up again. It involves fake websites that look like they’re part of the FasTrak toll system, trying to trick people into paying fake charges. The Myantispyware.com recently reported that this isn’t the first time this scam has appeared; it first showed up in March.
The scam involves texts claiming that you owe $5.79 for using the FasTrak Express Lanes. The message pressures you to pay by a certain date to avoid high late fees and provides a link for payment. This link takes you to a site called bayareafastrakstolls.com, which uses the FasTrak logo and pretends to be associated with the Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the real organization that handles FasTrak and bridge tolls.
Sample scam FasTrak web addresses
- bayareafastrakinvoice[.]com
- bayareafastraktollservices[.]com
- bayareafastrakservices[.]com
- tollsbayareafastrak[.]com
- bayareafastrak-help[.]com
The real MTC has warned everyone about these scams on its official website. It reminds everyone that FasTrak will never send texts asking for money. They advise everyone to only use the official website, bayareafastrak.org, or to call their customer service at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655) for any transactions.
The FasTrak also suggests that anyone who thinks they might have been scammed should call their credit card company right away to dispute the charges. They found out that the latest fake sites are linked to Hong Kong and Russia, showing that this scam has connections worldwide.
Bayareafastrakstolls.com Text Scam: What to Do
If you receive a message from bayareafastrakstolls.com claiming that your vehicle has used a FasTrak Express Lane and instructing you to pay a fine, be extremely cautious. This website, which purports to collect toll payments, is a phishing scam designed to steal your personal and financial information. Providing such sensitive details could put your financial security at serious risk.
Once scammers obtain your information, they have everything they need to commit extensive financial fraud and identity theft. They could quickly use stolen credit card details, open fraudulent accounts, file false tax returns, and engage in other criminal activities using your identity.
FasTrak has issued warnings about such scams, clarifying that they do not send payment requests via text with links to websites. Here are some steps to protect yourself:
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Stay Cautious: If you receive an unexpected text about owing money for tolls, do not act impulsively. Remember, FasTrak does not request payments through text messages.
Check Official Sources: Instead of clicking on any links, go directly to the official FasTrak website at bayareafastrak.org to check your account status.
Report Scams: Help combat these fraudulent activities by reporting any suspicious messages to the authorities.
Act Quickly If You’ve Paid: If you’ve inadvertently made a payment to the scam site, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the charges and secure your accounts.
By following these guidelines, you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim of this and similar scams. Always verify before you trust a payment request, especially from unexpected sources.
