LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- If you've crossed a toll bridge recently because free bridges were not open, you could fall for a nationwide scam that's now targeting RiverLink users in Kentucky and Indiana. 

With the 2nd Street Bridge recently closed for repairs for weeks, and then shut down again for Thunder Over Louisville, more people than usual have used the toll bridges to get across Kentuckiana. While RiverLink balances may be higher, some of the fees and notifications sent out are fake. 

Brian Smith likes to avoid paying tolls when he can, but lately he said that's been harder to do. 

"It's like we're forced to use [a toll] bridge," Smith said. 

Smith drives from the Portland neighborhood to southern Indiana every day for his job. And he gets frustrated anytime the 2nd Street Bridge is closed. 

"I'm forced to pay $10 a day just to go to work, just to provide for my family," Smith said. 

It's no longer just mounting fees, long hold time or the lines at the RiverLink office. Now, the FBI and Riverlink are warning drivers about a new phishing scam that's traveling across the country.

Drivers around the nation have gotten text messages claiming to be from tolling agencies, like RiverLink, and falsely state a balance is overdue. The text messages also include a fake link to pay the bill. 

"There's a lot of people that are susceptible to that scam because everyone uses that toll bridge," Smith said. 

The FBI said it has received more than 2,000 complaints about the fakes texts since early March. Investigators said it has made its way to RiverLink customers. Investigators said Wednesday the scam hit Kentuckiana.

"That's terrible," Smith said. "That's like adding insult to injury."

Fake toll text message sent to RiverLink customers

This is a scam text message sent to a RiverLink customer saying there's an outstanding balance that needs to be paid. It includes a malicious link that should not be opened.

Tim Beam, the chief division counsel for the FBI's Louisville, Ky., office, told us scammers are working hard to appear legitimate. 

"The fraudulent websites are constantly changing to mirror legitimate toll service companies," he said. So not everyone will receive the same text. 

The FBI has released a public service announcement warning drivers about the scam. 

RiverLink has started notifying people through its website, and the FBI's PSA recommends taking the following steps if you receive a fake text:

  1. File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center and be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed in the text. 
  2. Check your account using the RiverLink's legitimate website.
  3. Notify RiverLink that you've received the text.
  4. Delete any smishing texts received.
  5. If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.

Related Content:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All rights reserved.