The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is alerting the public to a series of fraudulent attempts to collect money from users of its Good To Go! tolling system. Unofficial emails and texts are being sent out, attempting to deceive individuals into believing they owe past-due tolls. The scam involves messages and links that direct users to fake payment portals, aiming to collect personal and financial information.
WSDOT has confirmed that genuine communications regarding toll payments will direct customers exclusively to the official site MyGoodToGo.com. In a statement made by WSDOT, individuals who have used the toll system, and those who have never used it reported receiving these suspicious messages. The department has clarified that it does not ask customers to make payments through any unofficial portals and that personal information collected by the program is protected by law and kept confidential.
"We would like to reassure you that under no circumstances do we disclose individual customer information for use by marketing firms. All Good To Go! customer information, including name, address and payment information, is kept confidential and private, and is protected by law," WSDOT stated, according to FOX 13 Seattle.
WSDOT further advises that if customers are uncertain about the authenticity of a message claiming to be from Good To Go!, they should log into their accounts or contact customer service for verification. In the wake of this scam, those who receive dubious emails or texts are urged to report these incidents to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Customers should include, the phone number or email address from which the message originated, as well as the URL provided in the message before deleting it. This advice was reinforced in a report by KOMO News.
Amidst increased online scams, the WSDOT’s initiative highlights the importance of maintaining vigilance against cyber fraud. The public is reminded to approach unexpected financial claims with scrutiny and to protect their personal information against potential exploitation. The department's communications aim to safeguard customers against these deceptive practices and ensure the security of the state's toll collection system.
