Did you get it? Toll text scam ramps up, making another round in Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - A familiar text message scam is spreading in Kansas. The scam involves impersonating the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) and attempts to steal your personal information by prompting you to follow a link online.

Kansans said they’ve received the text along with several of their family - sometimes on the same day.

Cyber security expert Bill Ramsey said the text keeps coming because people keep clicking on the link.

“It’s working for them people are clicking on things because they have this reactionary fear of, ‘Oh, I can’t believe I’ve missed something.’ They go out there and they’re giving them money, they wouldn’t be doing it if they weren’t making money at it,” Ramsey explained

So, how do you know if it’s a scam?

The KTA says it doesn’t send you unsolicited texts or emails. If you receive a suspicious text message about unpaid tolls, do not click on any links.
driveks.com is the KTA website. If the link says something else, it’s a scam.
If you click the link and end up on a fake website, click around to see if any buttons beside payment options work.

“Site map, goes nowhere, privacy goes nowhere, agreement goes nowhere, they’re just concerned about this,” said Ramsey.

He said the next time you receive a scam message, don’t respond.

“It verifies to them that you’re an actual legitimate phone number with a real on the other end and just the fact that you have responded tells them that you could be a potential option for them,” he said.

Jeri Behler The KTA said you can report the text to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

“All of us working together to report bogus, fake sites help us get them shut down quicker. The KTA cybersecurity team has been responsible for shutting down about 15 sites,” said Jeri Beihler with the Kansas Turnpike Authority.