HOUSTON, Texas — Harris County officials and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating a scam involving fraudulent text messages that claim recipients owe toll fees or traffic fines.
The texts, which impersonate the Harris County District Clerk’s Office, direct residents to a fake website that mimics the official portal and asks for sensitive financial information.
The Harris County District Clerk’s Office confirmed that it does not send text messages to collect payments for tolls, court fees, or traffic violations. District Clerk Marilyn Burgess warned the public to remain cautious and avoid sharing personal or credit card information through suspicious links.
The fraudulent website prompts victims to enter credit card numbers. According to authorities, many users attempt multiple cards after the site rejects initial entries, often resulting in multiple compromised accounts before the scam is detected.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit and the FBI are jointly leading the investigation. Authorities advise anyone who submitted payment through the fraudulent site to cancel their credit cards immediately and monitor their financial statements for unauthorized charges.
Reports of similar scam messages have surfaced in other states, suggesting a broader campaign. Law enforcement agencies encourage recipients of such messages to ignore and delete them and to report any incidents to local authorities.
The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) also issued a public advisory warning of phishing scams related to toll charges. Officials emphasized that residents should verify messages through official HCTRA or government channels before providing any payment or personal data.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities ask the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement to help prevent further cases of fraud.