Recently, many Massachusetts residents have received texts from a random number, informing them that they have an unpaid toll bill which will be considered late in 12 hours. The message claims to be from the toll agency EZDriveMA and provides a link to pay the bill. Many have sent in payment, before discovering that these messages are actually scams. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has released a statement about these messages, reminding residents that EZDriveMA would never request payment through text. 
This scam is called “smishing”, a text scam that impersonates a trusted sender. Another similar scam is a message claiming the recipient has an unclaimed package from USPS in a warehouse and asks them to click a link to confirm their address.
Unfortunately, these scams are incredibly common in an age that so often utilizes digital methods of communication. Sometimes, our phones are able to warn us that the messages may be spam, but occasionally some slip through the cracks. It’s important to be aware of the different types of scams out there so that you can prepare yourself to recognize them. I have compiled a list of a few different ones that I have encountered across my years on the internet, and what blew their cover!
The Social Media “Mural” Scam
This one is a classic. If you have a public social media account, you are likely to receive one of these messages at some point. The message will begin by complimenting your profile, and then go on to say that they were so inspired by you that they would like to make a mural of you. They will even pay you for it! Though this may seem innocent, the scammer will proceed to send you a fake check. They will then ask you for a little bit of that money back so that they can buy “art supplies” — hopefully before you realize the check is fake! I have gotten this one on both Instagram and TikTok.
The tell with this one is usually the account itself. You can see in my screenshot that the account has no followers, which is suspicious for someone who claims to be an established artist with clients. This message is definitely one of the more obvious ones, but some are more hidden, so always look carefully.
The Concert Ticket Scam
This is one of the trickier scams to recognize. Usually, concert scammers pose as fans in comment sections. They comment on videos using the sounds of the artist whose tickets they are “selling”, claiming that something came up and they can no longer attend the concert. They claim that they want a real fan to take their place, and to DM them if interested. The tickets always end up being fake, and then you lose however much you paid, and any hope of attending the concert! I find this one especially cruel because it’s really preying on people’s disappointment from the lottery that is Ticketmaster. So many fans are crushed when they can’t get tickets to their favorite concert, which makes them much more susceptible to scams like this.
What I’d look out for here is accounts that impersonate real people. A lot of accounts will re-upload content from other creators, and you can usually tell if it’s a re-upload based on the video quality. Even the grammar in the comments can be a tell. I got a ton of these comments on a recent video with a Gracie Abrams song and had to block them all. My advice is that you’re better safe than sorry — stick to verified resale sites, or buy from a friend.
The Influencer Scam
When I had accumulated enough of a TikTok following to promote products, I put my email in my bio so that businesses could contact me. Because of this, I received a ton of scam DMs and emails from fake businesses. Grammar mistakes were a surprisingly common issue that showed me what was and wasn’t a scam. Some are also just odd with their wording: I’ve gotten a few that start with “Hi Dear”. It’s a red flag when they don’t use your name as well since it usually indicates that it’s not a real person looking at your account and finding your name. Any email that is super vague might indicate that something is wrong. A real business will typically be clear, friendly, and personal in their emails.
FAKE:
REAL:
Even so, there can still be some issues with real businesses. Some will offer you payment that is really not enough for the amount of work they are asking for, and some will ask you to lie about loving their product, even if you haven’t used it. So it’s always important to research brands before accepting their offers.
In 2025, so much of our communication happens online. Social media can be a great place to connect with new and current friends, but there are also a lot of sketchy characters to watch out for. It’s always good to get a second opinion if you feel like something might be a scam, and never be afraid to hit the “block” button. Most importantly: never send anyone money online if you don’t know them personally!
https://www.mass.gov/news/massdot-alerts-customers-of-ezdrivema-scam
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/dont-fall-for-this-instagram-art-scam
