JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In this week’s Ask Anthony: are those annoying text messages claiming you owe money for unpaid tolls continuing to pop up on your phone? It’s not just you. In fact, Anthony got two of those messages within five minutes! This specific scam asks you to copy a link from the text and paste it into your web browser to make a payment.

Let’s be clear: don’t do that! Scammers are using this trick to steal your money—and potentially your identity. Anthony hears from people all the time asking if these messages are real, and he can’t stress enough that they’re not.

Here’s what you need to remember:

1. Don’t click any links or respond immediately. Scammers want you to act fast, but it’s safer to take a moment to double-check before you do anything.

2. Verify the message with your tolling agency. Instead of using the contact information provided in the text, reach out directly to your state’s toll agency through a trusted phone number or website.

3. Report and delete. If you’ve confirmed the message is a scam, use your phone’s “report junk” feature or forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). After that, delete the message to keep yourself safe.

Remember: If you encounter an issue that you just can’t solve, email AskAnthony@firstcoastnews.com.