Fast facts:
- The Michigan Department of Transportation will post toll scam reminders on their dynamic message sign (DMS) boards statewide.
- MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich issued a previous reminder to residents ensuring drivers that MDOT does not operate toll roads or text to solicit payments.
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has also shared tips to avoid being scammed.
LANSING, Mich. - As 1.3 million Michiganders prepare to hit the road for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) continues efforts to communicate the widespread toll scam plaguing the nation. This includes a recent message added to the department’s dynamic message sign (DMS) boards, located along state highways, primarily found along interstate routes.
MDOT owns 278 DMS boards, typically broadcasting estimated arrival times, road construction and incident warnings, and occasionally weather advisories. Over the next few weeks, MDOT will stray from its standard messaging protocols to post an important message impacting all Michigan residents, providing a staunch reminder that the department does not operate toll roads and will never text residents to collect payments of any kind. The following message will be displayed outside of locations that require incident or construction updates:
BE AWARE
TOLL TEXTS
ARE SCAMS
Following the widespread toll text scam, MDOT offices have fielded hundreds of phone calls assuring residents they do not owe a toll, updated footer language on department news releases, added a banner warning to the official MDOT and Mi Drive websites, and continue to share frequent reminders on social media. This newest addition aims to capture attention as drivers hit the road this weekend, with the message remaining in place into June. In April, following a phishing attempt mimicking the MDOT website, State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich shared a video message ensuring residents that MDOT does not operate toll roads and will never solicit payments via text messaging.
"Please be assured this is a scam and the texts are not coming from MDOT or another State of Michigan agency," said Wieferich. "MDOT does not operate any toll roads. Some state-owned bridges are tolled but not through license plate capture. You would not receive a bill through text or email."
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has closely followed the recent rash of toll scams and has issued reminders to help all Michiganders avoid falling victim to these phishing attempts, along with how best to report a scam to officials.
Attorney General Nessel is also reminding consumers that government agencies:
- Will not request personal information through email, over the phone or text.
- Will never demand money through email, over the phone or text. They will mail you a notice and offer payment options.
- Will not ask for nor accept payment by prepaid gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app.
Consumers should not reply to suspicious texts or click on links or attachments. Instead, they should use built-in spam-blocking tools on their mobile devices. Consumers can report smishing texts by forwarding them to SPAM (7726) and by sending the texts to the Federal Trade Commission.
MDOT DMS boards statewide will display a warning message reminding drivers not to fall victim to toll scam attempts.
