HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania lawmakers are sounding the alarm over a wave of scam emails and text messages impersonating state transportation agencies, including PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and E-ZPass. The latest schemes falsely identify themselves as coming from the “Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles”—a non-existent agency in the commonwealth.
Leadership from both the Senate and House Transportation Committees are urging residents to be vigilant and avoid interacting with these fraudulent messages. The scams typically threaten penalties such as driver’s license suspension or registration holds, then direct recipients to click a link or make urgent payments through phishing websites designed to steal personal and financial data.
“These messages look official, but they’re nothing more than scams designed to steal your personal and financial information,” said Senator Marty Flynn, Minority Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “PennDOT does not collect tolls, and legitimate agencies will never ask for payment through unsolicited texts or emails.”
Senator Judy Ward, who chairs the committee’s majority, emphasized the need for caution: “Your safety and security are imperative, which is why I implore you to heed the advice of Commonwealth agencies and law enforcement officers.”
House Transportation Chair Rep. Ed Neilson echoed those concerns, noting the scams often target older adults. “These phishing scams are dangerous because they often target vulnerable senior citizens on a tight income who are just trying to do the right thing,” he said.
“These scammers are educated — albeit misguided — individuals who are persistent in their attempt to disrupt the lives of their targets,” said Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, Minority Chair of the House committee. “The success of their effort is predicated on a lack of knowledge about how these agencies legally communicate with their constituents.”
Lawmakers and agencies advise Pennsylvanians to take the following precautions:
- Do not click on unsolicited links from emails or text messages that appear to be from transportation agencies.
- Use only official channels such as the PA Turnpike’s E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app to manage toll accounts.
- Remember: PennDOT does not collect toll payments.
If you suspect you’ve been targeted, officials recommend logging into your toll account to check for unusual activity and contacting the PA Turnpike’s customer service at 877-736-6727. Scam attempts should be reported to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
“Scammers want you to panic and act fast. That’s their game,” Flynn added. “Always take a moment to verify the information.”
Neilson urged residents to trust their instincts: “If you are suspicious about any message, email or phone call you receive, make sure you err on the side of caution.”
“Time spent validating a request for personal information is a wise investment,” said Benninghoff, “which could avoid a costly mistake.”
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