The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) continues to warn drivers about scam text messages claiming they owe money for unpaid tolls, including messages that imitate the appearance and logo of DriveEzMD correspondence.
“DriveEzMD will NEVER request payment via text message,” the agency states. Drivers should not share personal information or make payments through links included in these messages.
According to MDTA, authorized ways to pay Maryland tolls or manage an account include visiting DriveEzMD.com, using the DriveEzMD app, visiting a customer service center, or calling 1-888-321-6824. Drivers can also follow payment instructions on mailed citations or Notices of Tolls Due, including QR codes printed on those notices.
Anyone who receives a suspicious text should check their account directly through the official website or contact customer service using the verified number, rather than following information provided in the message.
MDTA recommends reporting the texts to the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Reports should include the sender’s phone number and the website listed in the text. After preserving that information for a report, recipients should delete the message.
The scams are not new. In a 2024 public service announcement, the FBI reported receiving more than 2,000 complaints beginning in early March of that year about texts impersonating road toll collection services in at least three states. The messages used similar language, often claiming a small unpaid balance and threatening a larger late fee.
The practice is known as “smishing,” a combination of SMS and phishing, and is designed to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information or sending money. Anyone who clicked a suspicious link or provided information should take steps to secure their personal information and financial accounts and dispute unfamiliar charges.
