is tollsinfosny legit or scam? reviews and complaints

Is TollsInfosNY a Legitimate Toll Website or a Scam?

I recently received a concerning text message claiming I had an unpaid toll balance and directing me to visit tollsinfosny.com. This got me wondering – is tollsinfosny.com a real toll payment site or just another toll scam trying to steal people’s personal and financial information? In this extensive blog post, I’ll break down everything you need to know to determine if tollsinfosny.com and similar sites contacting you are legitimate or a phishing scam.

The Text Message That Sparked Investigation

The text message I received read:

“You currently have an outstanding toll invoice of $58.72. Visit tollsinfosny.com immediately to pay this balance and avoid further late fees and penalties. This is your final notice.”

The threatening language and scare tactics used in the message were a red flag. Government agencies and legitimate businesses typically don’t use such aggressive language in their communications. I also did some digging and found many similar reports online of others receiving this same exact text or email but with a different dollar amount owed. This suggested it was a scam text being sent out en masse rather than a personal notification.

Characteristics of a Toll Payment Scam

After researching toll payment scams online, I identified some telling characteristics that the text directing me to tollsinfosny.com exhibited:

<table>
<tr>
<th>Characteristic</th>
<th>Description</th>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Threatening/Urgent Language</td>
<td>Claims it’s a “final notice” and implies late fees/penalties will be added if not paid immediately, putting pressure on the recipient</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Vague Balance Amount</td>
<td>States a dollar amount owed but provides no trip/vehicle details or ability to look up legitimate toll invoices for verification</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Request for Immediate Payment</td>
<td>Demands the recipient visit the website ASAP rather than first verifying the notice through official toll payment channels</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Phishing Website Domain</td>
<td>The domain tollsinfosny.com was registered recently and has no affiliation with legitimate toll agencies unlike official sites like e-zpassny.com</td>
</tr>
</table>

Seeing how this text matched all the red flags of a toll scam allowed me to confidently determine it wasn’t actually from a real toll collection agency. The website it directed to was also just a phishing site designed to steal personal info, not a place to pay verified toll debts.

Common Purpose of Toll Payment Scams

Now that the characteristics revealed this was likely a scam, the next question was what exactly were the scammers trying to achieve? All toll payment phishing scams have the same ultimate goal – stealing people’s identities and bank/credit card numbers. Here are some common ways they go about doing so:

1. Stealing Payment Information – The phishing site will ask for credit card or bank account details under the guise of processing a toll payment. But it only exists to commit payment card fraud with the numbers.

2. Spreading Malware – Some scam sites will secretly download malware like trojans and keyloggers to computers through fake “payment form” downloads. This extracts credentials and spies on users.

3. Harvesting Personal Data – Scammers collect names, addresses, license plate numbers, email addresses and more that can be used to either directly commit identity theft or sell on the dark web.

4. Embezzling Funds – If a victim does make a “toll payment” on the fake site, their money disappears into the scammer’s pocket without their toll balance actually being cleared at all.

So in summary, the end goal of these phishing scams targeting toll payers is always financial gain at someone else’s expense through various forms of digital theft and fraud. It’s important everyone recognizes the signs so they don’t fall victim.

How to Stay Protected from Toll Payment Scams

Now that I understand toll scams are pretty much always illegitimate attempts to steal people’s money and private data, here are some effective strategies anyone can use to protect themselves:

• Be Skeptical of Unusual Communications – If you didn’t initiate contact, question any surprising messages about toll debts.

• Verify Notices Through Official Channels – Look up toll agencies’ real websites and contact numbers to confirm notices, don’t click links in texts/emails.

• Review Toll Payment History Regularly – Know what you actually owe to catch discrepancies in scam notices promptly.

• Use Authorized Payment Portals Only – Websites ending in .gov are most trustworthy for making toll payments over entering info on random sites.

• Don’t Quickly Pay Unverified Amounts – Scammers count on pressuring people to pay unconfirmed balances right away without thinking.

• Update Contact Info With Toll Agencies – Keep addresses current so improper notices can be recognized right off.

• Enable Security Tools on Devices – Use antivirus, firewalls and two-factor authentication to block malware and credential theft from phishing sites.

Staying informed about common toll scams allows people to protect themselves through a bit of skepticism and due diligence in verifying notices. With care, no one has to become a victim of these opportunistic phishing schemes.

How Do I Know If I’m Actually Owed Toll Money?

Now that the tollsinfosny.com notice has been exposed as a scam, the lingering question remains – is it possible I do truly have outstanding tolls on my record from legitimate trips I took? Here are the recommended steps to take to verify your actual toll payment status:

1. Check with Your Toll Agency – Find contact details for whichever transponder program you use like E-ZPass and give them a call to ask about any potential balances. They can look you and your vehicle up by name or plate number.

2. Review Past Toll Notices – Log into your toll payment account portal online (if you have auto-pay set up) and check recent statements. Government sites clearly list individual trips and charges.

3. Research Travel History – Try to recall toll road trips you took if it was awhile ago. Note dates and look up toll rates to estimate possible costs.

4. Request Invoice Statements – Some toll programs will mail paper statements if you ask. This provides a definitive record of all activity on your account.

5. Check Credit Reports – Delinquent toll debts may be sent to collection and appear here. Dispute any unfamiliar Toll violations.

6. Contact DMV for Registration Holds – In some states, toll evaders have their registration suspended. Check for active blocks.

Performing thorough due diligence is important both to uncover real debts as well as counteract scammers posing as toll collectors. With patience and the right resources, your legitimate toll payment status can be fully resolved.

How Can Toll Agencies Improve Security?

The rise of toll payment phishing clearly shows scammers are exploiting gaps between how road authorities issue notices and how toll payers access their account information. Some measures toll operators could adopt to help cut down on successful scams include:

• Using multi-factor authentication for all account access – require more than just a username/password.

• Requiring registration of license plates to mail toll bills – emails/texts alone lack identity verification.

• Enabling real-time balance check online or via app – no need to follow links from unknown sources.

• Delaying penalties/fees period to allow dispute time – scammers rely on pressure tactics.

• Issuing EMV chip-enabled transponders – harder for thieves to clone transponders than RFID ones.

• Educating public about scam signs through ads – most people still fall for toll phishing texts initially.

• Creating a standardized interoperable toll payment platform – limit confusion over multiple tolling authorities.

• Partnering with law enforcement on scam reports – takedowns deter copycats if scammers face prosecution risks.

More user-centric security focused on reducing vulnerabilities wherever people interact with toll systems could go far in hindering toll scammers access to potential victims. Increased vigilance from all sides is needed.

Conclusion – Staying Savvy is the Best Defense

In closing, the unfortunate reality is that toll payment scams won’t stop until people recognize the telltale signs of a phishing attempt versus a legitimate notice. While toll agencies should continue strengthening security on their end too, personal accountability and vigilance also play a key role. Taking the time for due diligence in verifying notices and understanding how scams work helps people stay protected so opportunists don’t prevail. An educated community unable to be easily misled is the toll scammers worst nightmare.