Gov. Hochul Warns of E-ZPass Scam Texts

Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a warning to New Yorkers about a text message scam targeting E-ZPass users, highlighting that these messages claim unpaid tolls and solicit personal information. The fraudulent texts often originate from international numbers and direct recipients to an unofficial website through a link obtained by replying 'Y'. The New York State Thruway Authority and the Secretary of State have reiterated that E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail will never request sensitive information via text or email. Despite warnings from other agencies earlier, Hochul's alert comes amid confusion surrounding the state's congestion pricing plan. Residents are advised to delete these messages and report them to authorities, using official contact methods if in doubt. Similar scams have been reported in New Jersey, emphasizing the need for vigilance against phishing attempts.