Get an email about overdue SunPass charges? It's fake

If you received an email from SunPass about past-due tolls, it's fake.

According to a notice issued by the Florida Department of Transportation this week, some customers received an email from SunPassNotice@ezpass-collections.net signed by "Sun Pass Collections Inc." or "Sun Pass Collections Inc. Linebargar Goggen Blaiir, LLP."

"(Florida's Turnpike Enterprise) respects and appreciates the privacy of its customers," the Florida Department of Transportation said, and is not affiliated with the senders. "Please be aware that (Florida's Turnpike Enterprise) does not send toll invoices through email. Official toll invoices are sent only through U.S. mail."

The fraudulent email, which also included a link to a fake invoice, threatened legal action for those who did not comply.

"Failure to pay will result in a summons for court appearance within 30 days," the transportation department said the fraudulent email read.

Anyone who received the email can file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.

The fraudulent emails come after a difficult year for SunPass. Florida's toll system was thrown into disarray in June when the vendor who operates the system, Conduent, stopped processing charges.

The Xerox spinoff has a track record of similar mismanagement of other states' toll processing systems, and is currently being investigated by the Florida Inspector General.

Toll-by-plate invoices, which are being used to track payments incurred since the issue arose, have not yet been sent to customers.

"Until we are 100 (percent) confident that invoices are accurate, Toll-By-Plate invoices will not be sent to customers," Tom Yu, spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation, said in a statement Dec. 21.

Contact Malena Carollo at mcarollo@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2249. Follow @malenacarollo.