The E-ZPass is a little technological marvel, now used by millions of motorists in 17 states to make waiting at toll booths a thing of the past. Forget packing a jug of change to feed the toll basket.

When you register for one of these things, tolls are automatically charged to your credit card, allowing you, in many cases, to breeze through toll plazas without ever touching the brakes. Unfortunately, like all things in the digital world, scammers have come up with a few tricks to make a buck on this technology at our expense.

One popular scam uses text messaging to send you an official-looking notice that you are in trouble for an unpaid toll. If you click the link, you are directed to enter your credit card number to pay your fine and toll.

Threats are made that, if you don’t pay up NOW, your license may be suspended, your vehicle seized, and you might even be thrown in jail. Scammers live to try to scare the bejeebers out of victims. Ignore any threats — if you get a text or email like this — delete it.

The Ohio Turnpike NEVER sends text messages demanding payment for tolls. If you owe a toll, the Ohio Turnpike will send you up to three invoices in the mail to collect your toll.

If you don’t pay attention to these letters, the state will turn you over to a collection agency — Reliant Capital Solutions. The folks at Reliant definitely will send you texts, and chase you around until you pay what’s owed. The Turnpike says to contact Reliant Capital Solutions directly at 866-738-3182 for any E-ZPass account more than 90 days past due.

Anyone responding to a fake toll message and giving away their credit or debit card numbers can be charged anything. If you find yourself in this situation, cancel your card immediately, and file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Work with your bank to recover any money lost by misuse of your card number.

Another growing E-ZPass fraud involves scammers using wireless “skimmers” to harvest the codes from your device, and sell the information on the dark web to folks who sell “cloned” E-ZPasses.

You’ll know this has happened to you if your next E-ZPass statement shows travel in places you have not visited. If your statement looks weird, cancel your credit card and discard your compromised E-ZPass. Experts recommend E-ZPass owners keep their devices (transponders) in a foil-lined bag to prevent theft of their codes.

Modern criminals jump on any opportunity to use information technology to make an illegal buck. Don’t respond to text messages or emails about E-ZPass toll charges. If you’re in trouble, you will be getting letters in the mail. And to be extra-safe, remove your E-ZPass from your windshield when not in use, and wrap it in a piece of foil.

The weather in the Valley has been a little nippy lately. Think about putting that E-ZPass to productive use, and go somewhere warm for a few days!

Protect yourself

Dave Long answers questions during a series of monthly talks on the latest scams, why scammers target seniors and how to protect personal information at 1 p.m. the fourth Thursday of every month at the Poland Township Government Center, 3339 Dobbins Road, Poland.

To report a scam or to ask questions, seniors may call county Senior Services Units. In Mahoning County, call Bob Schaeffer at 330-480-5078. In Trumbull County, call Don Hyde at 330-675-7096.

Dave Long of Poland, a Youngstown State University graduate, is a retired public affairs officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection who later worked as an Elder Scam Prevention Outreach specialist in Rochester, N.Y., before moving back to the Mahoning Valley.