The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) was alerted Tuesday afternoon of a text message-based scam, known as smishing, that is using the name of DriveKS, the new Kansas toll payment system.
The text message includes a photo with the DriveKS logo and states that outstanding balances need to be paid to avoid additional fees.
Things for customers to be aware of:
- Do not click links or use the URL provided in unsolicited text messages.
- KTA does not send unsolicited text messages. All text messages require customer sign-up through their DriveKS account or for roadway incident alerts.
- KTA does not charge fees such as those mentioned in the text messages.
- KTA does not send text messages for toll payment.
The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with a toll account or use of toll roads. Smishing scams of other varieties have been reported by toll agencies across the country since early April causing the FBI to issue a public service announcement about the fraudulent SMS texting campaign.
Customers who receive an unsolicited text, suggesting it is from the KTA or another toll agency, should not click the link. Rather they are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. This site is dedicated to sharing information on internet crimes across law enforcement agencies.
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