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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 27, 2025 |
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LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing her consumer alerts on smishing scams and government imposter scams due to a new version of the scam targeting toll road users. This latest scam involves a fraudulent text claiming the recipient owes unpaid tolls to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The message falsely warns that it is the final reminder, threatening legal action if payment is not made. The text also includes a deceptive link designed to appear legitimate.
“The Michigan Department of Transportation will not send you a text message demanding immediate payment for a toll,” Nessel said. “The best response to this scam is to ignore the message and avoid clicking any links or providing any personal information.”
Consumers may have received a smishing text if it:
- Is unsolicited.
- Is sent from an unusually long phone number (10 or more digits).
- Includes a link that is likely shortened or scrambled.
- Is written with a sense of urgency.
- Contains grammatical and spelling errors.
- Promises a reward or prize if you respond or click a link.
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Requests personal or financial information.
Consumers should not reply to suspicious texts or click on links or attachments. Instead, they should use built-in spam-blocking tools on their mobile devices. Consumers can report smishing texts by forwarding them to SPAM (7726) and by sending the texts to the Federal Trade Commission.
Attorney General Nessel is also reminding consumers that government agencies:
- Will not request personal information through email, over the phone, or text.
- Will never demand money through email, over the phone, or text. They will mail you a notice and offer payment options.
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Do not ask for or take payment by prepaid gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.
To file a complaint with the Attorney General, or get additional information, contact:
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