Italian police warn of WhatsApp toll‑payment phishing scam

The Italian State Police have alerted the public to a new phishing campaign that uses WhatsApp messages to impersonate Autostrade per l'Italia. The messages claim the recipient has an unpaid highway toll and contain a link labelled “Download statement” that leads to a fraudulent website designed to steal personal data, bank credentials and payment‑card information. The scam often originates from numbers with foreign prefixes, making it appear official to drivers familiar with Telepass and other toll‑payment services.

Authorities advise anyone receiving such a message not to click the link, to block the sender and to report the incident to the Polizia Postale via the online portal. They emphasize that legitimate toll‑payment notices are never sent through chat apps and that official communications are delivered only through authorized websites or dedicated applications.