'Don't click': Text message scam targeting Oklahoma drivers
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is warning about the latest round of scams hitting the state.
Several Oklahomans have reported receiving text messages from random phone numbers, claiming they have an unpaid turnpike bill.
"Everything about this letter is just a scam," said Danny Benefield, received scam.
Benefield says he got a text message with a PDF attached, and when he opened it he got a toll violation notice.
The letter claimed he owed $6.99 and asked him to pay now. Benefield said that made him suspicious.
"The $6.99 is not very much, but once they get the credit card, they go to town with your credit card number," said Benefield.
OTA confirms that this is a scam, along with other similar messages that have been circulating.
"This is a nationwide scam that has been targeting customers of turnpikes, unfortunately," said Lisa Shearer-Salim, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.
OTA says to check online to see if you really have bills that you owe, and that they rarely send text messages to communicate.
"There is a small instance in which we are sending a text campaign through our debt collection service, Harris & Harris. Those are legitimate texts and you can tell because it names Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and it has the Harris & Harris logo, so that you can verify that," said Shearer-Salim.
Benefield hopes others take a second look before clicking on any links.
"Be leery of scams in general, not just this, there are scams coming across telephones and emails every single day. You've just got to be aware of what's going on.," said Benefield.
If you receive a fraudulent message you should report it as junk immediately.
OTA also asks you to report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center