‘Beware’: 407 ETR seeing increasing reports of phishing scams

The operators of the Highway 407 Express Toll Route (ETR) say they’re seeing a “surge” in scammers pretending to be them and urging customers to “beware.”

The private highway says scammers are using phishing tactics to get unsuspecting recipients to click on malicious links, through fake text messages and websites, where their personal or financial information can be compromised.

In an image of one such fraudulent text message provided by 407 ETR, the sender tells the recipient they have an overdue balance and that an “additional administrative fee” of $25 or more is about to be applied.

“Possible referral to collections, which may affect your credit score,” the message reads in part. The text is not sent from a legitimate 407 ETR phone number and does not link to a legitimate 407 ETR website, but it does include a real 407 ETR phone number at the bottom of the message to trick the recipient.

The highway is urging customers to remain vigilant and verify any message that looks suspicious.

“Protecting customer information is a responsibility we take very seriously. Customers should be cautious of any unexpected or suspicious message claiming to be from 407 ETR — especially if it contains a link,” 407 ETR president and CEO Jose Espinosa said in a statement issued Friday.

“If something doesn’t seem right, don’t click. Instead, verify through our official website or mobile app. Our teams work hard every day behind the scenes to ensure your interactions with 407 ETR remain secure and trustworthy.”

407 ETR underscored that it will never ask for passwords, PINs or credit card details in text messages of emails.