If you’ve received text messages claiming you need to make an urgent payment to SunPass, you’re not alone. These fraudulent messages, part of a recurring scam, seem to be increasingly common.

Thousands of SunPass users have reported receiving these texts, but the organization emphasizes that it never requests payments via text or demands immediate action from customers.

Yasir Mercado, a spokesperson for SunPass, stated, “Customer service is the highest priority for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and we continue to alert our customers to these types of scams.” SunPass has been using social media and call center announcements to warn users about these fraudulent activities.

If SunPass reaches out, it will text from 786727 or email from customerservice@sunpass.com or noreply@sunpass.com.

What Experts Say
Thomas Hyslip, a criminology professor at the University of South Florida, explains that this scam falls under “smishing” — a combination of SMS (short message service) and phishing.

These scams often follow a cyclical pattern. After a surge of activity gains attention and stops being effective, scammers pause until the spotlight fades, then ramp up again.

Many scammers use randomly generated phone numbers, making prevention nearly impossible. Hyslip points out that even if just 1% of recipients fall for the scam, it’s a win for the fraudsters.

How to Protect Yourself
Hyslip advises ignoring these messages entirely. “If you think it’s legitimate, don’t engage with the message. Visit the company’s official website or contact them directly to verify any claims.”

Additional tips include:

• Sending unknown callers to voicemail, though this may result in missed important calls.
• Recognizing urgent language in scam messages, designed to scare you into acting quickly.
• Asking yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t act immediately?”

What to Do If You Click or Share Information
If you accidentally click a fraudulent link or share your credit card details:

1. Change your account login information immediately.
2. Freeze your credit to prevent further misuse.
3. Contact your bank to cancel your card and report the incident.

The FBI previously issued a warning about this scam in April, encouraging victims to report it to www.IC3.gov before deleting the message.

Stay vigilant and remember: SunPass will never ask for payments via text, nor will it pressure you to act immediately.

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(Image credit: Fox 345 Orlando)