Olympia, Washington – Fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll fees are prompting a statewide warning from the Washington State Patrol.
According to the Washington State Patrol, multiple reports have been received of scam text messages falsely claiming to come from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The messages allege recipients have outstanding toll balances and instruct them to click a link to make payment or face arrest.
Troopers emphasized the messages are fraudulent and should be ignored. The Washington State Patrol does not send text messages regarding unpaid toll fees and does not enforce toll violations. WSDOT also does not threaten arrest through text communications.
Some of the scam messages attempt to appear more convincing by instructing recipients not to delete the text. Authorities say that instruction should be disregarded. Recipients are advised not to click any links, to delete the message immediately, and to report it as spam through their mobile provider.
The agency also urged the public not to call 911 to report the scam, noting that emergency lines should remain available for urgent situations.
Officials say the scam appears to target drivers across Washington and may be designed to capture personal or financial information through fraudulent payment links. Anyone who believes they may have interacted with one of the messages is encouraged to monitor bank accounts and report potential fraud to their financial institution.
The alert is especially relevant for commuters, students, and young workers who regularly use toll roads and may be more likely to expect legitimate toll-related notifications.
Washington State Patrol continues to monitor reports and is urging residents to share the warning with friends and family to prevent further victimization.
*This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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