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SunPass Email Invoice Is A Phishing Scam

By
Real Estate Agent with Sailwinds Realty

 

SunPass Email Invoice Is A Phishing Scam

 

About 3 weeks ago, I received an email supposedly from the SunPass billing office. I checked it thoroughly and discovered that the sender had a lot of foreign phrases within the backside of the email so I deleted it.

 

SunPass Email Invoice Is A Phishing ScamWe have SunPass stickers on our cars that read as we go through tollbooths. Then they are charged against our SunPass pre-filled account. So this is something that should never come up.

 
Yesterday, I received a notice from the same source, telling me that my account was going to collection because I hadn’t paid the $3.00 they asked for the first time. (Oh please, a $3.00 collection case-the collection company would laugh their heads off).


 
The invoice doesn’t actually say SunPass. It used SunBiz, so make sure the any invoice contains the FDOT logo.

Photo courtesy of Tidewater-Florida.com

 

I figured this was going to continue so Craig called SunPass and was told  that this is a phishing scam and we should just ignore it. A phishing scam defined by Wikipedia is simply an attempt to gain access to your email, credit info and bank account info.

 She also said that FDOT (who administers SunPass) would never email an invoice. Invoices are sent in the mail from FDOT (Florida Dept. of Transportation).

 

If you are getting emails demanding money for toll booths, just ignore them, delete them, block them. They are simply trying to get you to open the email links and give them your access information.

 

 My question is: How did they get our email? Has FDOT been hacked? The first notice arrived about 3 days after we drove down the Suncoast (which we don’t do that often, only maybe twice a month). How would they know when we drove on the Suncoast?

I’ll be checking further into that.

 

SunPass Email Invoice Is A Phishing Scam

Toni Weidman, Re/Max Sunset

Re/Max Sunset Realty

727-237-0083

email: homesbytoni@gmail.com

 

 

Posted by

 

Thinking of Selling Your Home in Trinity-New Port Richey to Hudson?
Craig and I have been selling in this area for 20+ years.
Call Me or email my assistant, Shayna.
 
 
Toni Weidman-New Port Richey FL Shayna Weidman
Toni Weidman
 Broker-associate
Florida Luxury Realty
Trinity, FL 34655
727-237-0083
Websites
 
 email: homesbytoni@gmail.com                            
 
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Comments(16)

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Toni, that's interesting information and good to know.  I think these phishing scams often just use tons of email addresses knowing that some will hit their target.

Jul 26, 2014 12:24 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I don't have one of these passes, but I have heard of this before....so horrible!

Jul 26, 2014 12:25 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Hi Toni,

They never give up trying to scam!! Great information to get out there!

Jul 26, 2014 12:36 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

The scams are for the most part even getting the logos down well. I don't open anything on email except what I know is for real coming in at the same time every month like American Express. Typically even an AMEX scam gets into junk.

Jul 26, 2014 12:54 AM
Jimmy Williams
Keller Williams Elite Partners IV - Mount Dora, FL
Lake and Western Orange County Real Estate Expert!

Hi Toni,

With them only claiming a $3 dollar violation, how much were they attempting to scam you for?

Jul 26, 2014 12:55 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Jimmy, the point of phishing is not the amount they tell you they want. The point is that you respond and they have your credit card info.

Jul 26, 2014 01:06 AM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

Yikes that is just not the best way to run a business.

Jul 26, 2014 01:14 AM
Sharon & Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette, IN - Lafayette, IN
West Lafayette homes for sale

Toni, there are a lot of weasels out their preying upon law abiding citizens, so good job getting the word out about this SunPass fraudulent email.

Jul 26, 2014 01:36 AM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Toni: Scammers are everywhere these days! This is good information for anyone with a SunPass sticker on their car.

Jul 26, 2014 02:37 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Toni,

OMG, another scam.  We always rent a car in Florida with the Sun Pass.  RecentlyWe have been beseiged by scammers and spam this last month, and are talking about it to our email provider..We are being offered Russian brides! LOL A

Jul 26, 2014 05:10 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Toni= you were wise to check everything out!  When we get rid of one scammer, there will always be another one right behind them.

Jul 26, 2014 05:42 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Pam Bondi and FDLE should be going after a scam like this, since the State of Florida's reputation is on the line.  

Jul 26, 2014 06:26 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Fred, I'm considering sending it to our Sheriff.

Jul 26, 2014 09:33 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Phishing scams are everywhere.. Thank you for pointing this one out.

Jul 26, 2014 12:36 PM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Toni-There are scams for all occassions. Must be a new batch of recently certified scammer graduates since the schemes seem to be increasing this month.

Jul 27, 2014 03:44 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Toni, We always have to be watching and thinking. These scammers are so troublesome.

Jul 27, 2014 09:35 AM