Every morning, I get up bright and early, and the first thing I do is check my work email. This morning, I had a couple of messages from the Indiana Department of Transportation and Indiana Governor Mike Braun.

Hmm, important stuff, right?

Wrong. Turns out, it was a phishing scam!

What is a Phishing Scam?

Phishing scams are a type of cybercrime where attackers send emails or text messages to trick victims into clicking a link. The goal of a phishing scam is to get the victim to click the link and enter personal information, which the attackers then steal and use for malicious purposes like opening new accounts or gaining access to a user's current account.

Scammers Pose as Indiana Government Agencies

Here's the email I received:

Dear Customer,

You have unpaid toll fees totaling $6.69. Failure to pay may result in penalties or vehicle registration holds.

Click below to view and pay your balance: [LINK]

Thank you,
TxTag Customer Service

Ashley S
Ashley S
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Hmm, so why would TxTag send a bill via the Dept of Transportation or the Governor? Something phishy here...

Let's take a moment to just stop and clarify something...

NEVER EVER EVER EVER click a link in an email from someone or something you don't 100% know - even if it has a .gov email address. Mike Braun has more important things to do than send you bills.

Why Did I Think It Might Be Real?

What really threw me off was the email address. It came from the Indiana Department of Transportation <indot@subscriptions.in.gov> and the Governor of the State of Indiana <gov@subscriptions.in.gov>.

Phishing scams are made to look like they came from reputable sources. I've received them from banks, internet providers, and even my daughter's school!

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What Should You Do If You Receive a Scam Text About Paying a Toll?

If you received an email, contact the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

Apparently, this has happened to several people, and the Indiana Department of Transportation has issued a statement:
INDOT and multiple other state agencies are aware of emails and text messages sent regarding unpaid tolls and TxTag tolling. DO NOT click the link and delete these messages, as it is a scam. The Indiana Office of Technology is working to resolve the issue.

How to Spot a Phishing Scam

Every year, my company makes us go through phishing training. It's kind of a pain to go through, but I have learned a great deal, including how to spot a phishing email. The FTC has a comprehensive list of red flags you should look for.

Contact the business in question directly if you receive emails about the following:

  • Suspicious activity or log-ins
  • Problem with your account
  • Ask you to confirm personal information
  • A lock or hold on your account
  • An invoice you weren't expecting
  • Links to make a payment
  • Eligibility for a government refund
  • Coupons for free items

There are also red flags to look for in the email itself including:

  • A generic greeting
  • An email address that misspells or adds additional words at the end of the email, like accounts.companyname.com
  • Misspellings in the email
  • Incorrect or pixelated logos
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How to Test Your Knowledge and Report Phishing

If you suspect phishing, report it today to the FTC. You can also take a quick quiz to see if you can spot the scammer.

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