The text message telling you to go to BayAreaFasTrakToll.com and saying your vehicle used the FasTrak Express Lane is a scam. The text says “Your vehicle has been recorded using the FasTrak Express Lane. To avoid a bill with excessive late fees of $46.70, kindly settle your balance of $4.67 at https://bayareafastraktoll.com”. It’s a scam that works the same way like the MyGoodToGoToll.com text scam targeting drivers in Washington.
This article provides a clear understanding of this scam, how it works, what to do if you fall victim, and lots more.
How the Scam Works
First of all, you will get a message with a link that looks like it’s for paying a bill. When you click on it, it takes you to a fake payment page that asks for your personal details. At first, it seems real, but if you check closely, you’ll see the web address isn’t correct. Links on the page don’t work, and the whole setup is designed to trick you. Even if you’re good at spotting scams, this one can be sneaky, Clicking the link itself is already a risk, even if you don’t enter any payment info or personal info.
Many people, especially Americans, have gotten these scam text messages and shared their experiences on Reddit.
Is FasTrak Aware of this Scam
Yes they are. The actual fastrak website www.bayarefasttrak.org currently has a big message on it which states that “FasTrak does not request payment by text message and will never send messages to anyone”. So the moment you receive a text message from bayarefasttrak, do not click on it.
Warning Signs of the Scam Website
First of all the website’s domain was just created on June 24, 2024 and the domain will expire next year, in 2025, showing it’s a temporary setup. Also another red flag we spotted is that the US never uses “kindly” in place of “Please”.
Secondly, The owner of the domain is someone named Bungee from Peru, which is suspicious for a Bay Area toll site. The domain name, BayAreaFasTrakToll.com, doesn’t seem trustworthy. FasTrak’s URL is http://bayareafastrak.org/.
What to Do If You Get a Scam Text About Toll Payments
- Stay Calm: Scammers want to scare you into acting fast. Remember, it’s a trick.
- Don’t Pay: Sending money won’t fix anything and puts you at risk.
- Ignore the Message: Don’t reply. It shows scammers your number is active.
- Check Personal Info: If the text has your info, see if your data was leaked on sites like haveibeenpwned.com.
- Change Passwords: Make strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and use two-factor authentication.
- Scan Your Device: Use good security software to check your phone or computer for malware.
- Report It: Tell the FTC or your local cybercrime unit about the scam text.
Solution for Victims of Toll Bay Area FasTrak Text Scam
Inform Their Credit Card Company
If you provided your credit card details on this scam site, the first step you should take is calling your credit card company. They need to know that your card details have been compromised so as to closely monitor and prevent any unauthorized charges.
Place a Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert
Fraud alert is sort of like a two-factor authentication process for accessing your credit, whereas a credit freeze blocks anyone from accessing your credit — until you remove it. The credit freeze is the best option for you, if you know you wouldn’t be using the credit card anytime soon.
Scan Their Device with a Malware Checker Tool
There’s a likelihood that your device has been infested by malware or spyware after visiting the spoofed website. Scanning your device with a malware removal tool will detect and remove any viruses, spyware, or other malicious programs.
Samantha