Pennsylvania drivers targeted by fake toll violation texts
IT IS 655. TIME FOR WGAL NEWS EIGHT TO GO. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS ON THE ROADS. LET’S GO OVER TO. THERE IS BREAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. CAMP HILL BOROUGH ROUTE 581 EASTBOUND AT EXIT FIVE. WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU LIVE RIGHT NOW HOW IT’S LOOKING. IT IS ON THE SHOULDER, BUT IT’S STOPPING PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE. SLOW CRAWL RIGHT NOW ON ROUTE 581 EASTBOUND THERE AT EXIT FOUR. WE ALSO HAVE AN INCIDENT STILL IN THE AREA THERE. YORK COUNTY RIGHT AT THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY LINE. FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP 83 NORTHBOUND AFTER LIME KILN ROAD. WE ALSO HAVE AN INCIDENT IN RAPHO TOWNSHIP THAT IS DIVERTING TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW. SOUTH ESPENSHADE ROAD AT ROUTE 283, TAKING YOU LIVE ON SCENE. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY DID WRAP THAT UP. WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THOSE CRASHES AT 725. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO A SHOOTING THAT LEFT ONE DEAD IN ELIZABETHTOWN, LANCASTER COUNTY POLICE ARE IDENTIFYING THE VICTIM IS TYLER J. HALBLEIB. AND THE SUSPECT WERE CHARGING DOCUMENTS. IDENTIFY AS 27 YEAR-OLD BRADLEY YINGER WERE IN AN ARGUMENT ON SATURDAY. THEY STEPPED OUTSIDE THE HOME ON BEECH LANE AND CONTINUED TO ARGUE BEFORE POLICE SAY YINGER SHOT HIM AND DROVE AWAY. YINGER IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES, INCLUDING CRIMINAL HOMICIDE. GOVERNOR SHAPIRO HAS ORDERED FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF STAFF TODAY IN HONOR OF A STATE POLICE CORPORAL WHO WAS KILLED LAST NIGHT. GOVERNOR SAYS CORPORAL TIMOTHY O’CONNOR STOPPED A CAR FOR A REPORT OF AN ERRATIC DRIVER IN WEST KOLIN TOWNSHIP. STATE POLICE SAY WHEN O’CONNOR WALKED UP TO THE CAR, THE SUSPECT IN THE CAR SHOT HIM. TROOPERS SAY THAT SUSPECT, A 32 YEAR OLD MAN FROM CHESTER COUNTY, THEN GOT OUT OF THE CAR, WALKED AWAY AND TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. O’CONNOR WORKED FOR STATE POLICE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS. THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE LEAVES BEHIND A WIFE AND YOUNG DAUGHTER. TAKING A LIVE LOOK FROM HARRISBURG THIS MORNING WHERE CITY COUNCIL IS LOOKING TO HOLD MAYOR WANDA WILLIAMS IN CONTEMPT OF COURT MOTION THAT WAS FILED FRIDAY. CITY COUNCIL IS ACCUSING THE MAYOR OF VIOLATING A DEAL TO RESOLVE A LAWSUIT OVER THE DEFUNDING OF SOME OF HER STAFF MEMBERS. COUNCIL IS CALLING FOR THE MAYOR TO BE FINED $1,000 A DAY FOR EACH DAY SHE VIOLATES THE AGREEMENT. IF THE MAYOR IS STILL IN VIOLATION OF THAT AGREEMENT AFTER 30 DAYS, THE MOTION REQUEST THAT SHE BE JAILED UNTIL SHE PAYS THE FINES AND REMOVES HER INTERIM DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FROM HER ROLE. THE MAYOR SAYS SHE WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE SHE SAYS SHE THOUGHT THEY WERE MAKING PROGRESS. GOOD MONDAY MORNING. LOOKING OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW. A BEAUTIFUL START TO THE DAY. HOWEVER, WE STEP OUTSIDE. YOU DEFINITELY NEED A JACKET. TEMPERATURES MOSTLY ARE IN THE 30S ACROSS THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY, CHAMBERSBURG AND GETTYSBURG. YOU’RE STILL IN THE MID 40S RIGHT NOW. LATER ON TODAY WE WILL GET UP TO 70 DEGREES THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER. THAT’S HAPPENED. PLENTY OF SUNSHINE TODAY AND TOMORROW. IT’S EVEN BETTER. WE’RE GOING TO BE GETTING UP TO 74 AS WE HEAD INTO YOUR TUESDAY. BOTH DAYS LOOKING BEAUTIFUL. WEDNESDAY’S WARM AS WELL. COULD SEE SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THOUGH AS WE GO INTO THE EVENING HOURS THERE. WITH THAT AS A COLD FRONT COMES THROUGH THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER ALREADY HIGHLIGHTING THE POTENTIAL RISK. WITH THAT, WE’LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP IN A LITTLE BIT, GUYS. THE WAR IN IRAN IS ENTERING ITS SECOND WEEK AND GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE. ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR GAS IN PENNSYLVANIA IS 3.59 A GALLON. THAT’S UP NEARLY $0.50 IN THE LAST WEEK. AND HERE IS A LOOK AT GAS PRICES THIS MORNING ACROSS THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. AGAIN, THESE ARE THE AVERAGE PRICES. ADAMS AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES HAVE THE HIGHEST AVERAGE PRICES AT OVER 3.65 A GALLON. YORK AND LANCASTER COUNTIES ARE EACH ABOVE THE 3.60 MARK. DAUPHIN, PERRY AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES ARE ALL BELOW 3.60 RIGHT AROUND THAT AVERAGE. AGAIN, THE AVERAGE WAS 3.59, WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE IN DAUPHIN COUNTY AS WELL. LEBANON COUNTY HAS THE CHEAPEST GAS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AT 3.53. ON AVERAGE. THE PRICE OF OIL HAS PUSHED UP GAS PRICES, PUSHED DOWN THE STOCK MARKET. ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN IS WHERE THE STOCKS ARE EXPECTED TO OPEN THIS MORNING. AT 930. THE DOW EXPECTED TO BE DOWN 600 POINTS, THE NASDAQ DOWN 300. HERE’S A LOOK AT 12 HOUR FORECAST UP TO 70 DEGREES TODAY. BEAUTIFUL MONDAY COMING YOUR WAY TOMORROW IS PHOENIX AS WELL. HERE’S A LOOK AT THE TEN DAY FORECAST. AND AS WE LOOK AT IT 72 ON WEDNESDAY. ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE IN AS WE GO LATER INTO THE DAY THERE, AND THE
Pennsylvania drivers targeted by fake toll violation texts
Updated: 8:18 PM EDT Mar 9, 2026
Scammers targeted Pennsylvania drivers with fake unpaid toll text messages over the weekend, leading Philadelphia courts to issue a statewide consumer fraud alert.You can view News 8 highlights in the video player above. The latest scam message, which many News 8 viewers forwarded, claims there has been a toll violation in the Philadelphia area and creates a sense of urgency by setting a hearing date and time.Text message details However, the message lacks details such as a vehicle, the owner’s name or license plate number.At the top of the message, the judge is listed as John Smith, and at the bottom, the clerk of the court is also listed as John Smith.Instead of a link to pay for the toll violation, the message includes a QR code, which is just as dangerous as a link. The same message is also being circulated as a parking violation notice in Philadelphia, with the same look, names and QR code.Courts do not send notices of fines and legal action through text messages; these notices are sent through the mail.
Scammers targeted Pennsylvania drivers with fake unpaid toll text messages over the weekend, leading Philadelphia courts to issue a statewide consumer fraud alert.
You can view News 8 highlights in the video player above.
The latest scam message, which many News 8 viewers forwarded, claims there has been a toll violation in the Philadelphia area and creates a sense of urgency by setting a hearing date and time.
Text message details
However, the message lacks details such as a vehicle, the owner’s name or license plate number.
At the top of the message, the judge is listed as John Smith, and at the bottom, the clerk of the court is also listed as John Smith.
Instead of a link to pay for the toll violation, the message includes a QR code, which is just as dangerous as a link. The same message is also being circulated as a parking violation notice in Philadelphia, with the same look, names and QR code.
Courts do not send notices of fines and legal action through text messages; these notices are sent through the mail.