July 29, 2025
Say phishing messages claim to be from PennDOT, Turnpike, or EZ-Pass
Harrisburg, July 29, 2025 – Transportation chairs from both the Senate and House are warning Pennsylvanians about phishing text messages and email scams impersonating PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, EZ Pass, and other transportation related agencies. The latest scam alleges to be from the “Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles.”
Senate Transportation Committee Chairs Judy Ward and Marty Flynn and House Transportation Committee Chairs Ed Neilson and Kerry Benninghoff are urging all Pennsylvania residents to avoid clicking links or giving away personal information from texts or emails that claim to represent transportation agencies in the commonwealth.
“All Pennsylvanians must remain vigilant in the ever-changing environment of scam messages via text and email,” said Senator Judy Ward. “Your safety and security are imperative, which is why I implore you to heed the advice of Commonwealth agencies and law enforcement officers.”
“These messages look official, but they’re nothing more than scams designed to steal your personal and financial information,” said Senator Flynn. “PennDOT does not collect tolls, and legitimate agencies will never ask for payment through unsolicited texts or emails.”
“Residents should be warned to not respond to these messages, avoid opening any links that are attached and do not respond with personal information,” Neilson said. “These phishing scams are dangerous because they often target vulnerable senior citizens on a tight income who are just trying to do the right thing.”
“These scammers are educated – albeit misguided – individuals who are persistent in their attempt to disrupt the lives of their targets,” said Benninghoff. “The success of their effort is predicated on a lack of knowledge about how these agencies legally communicate with their constituents.”
The fraudulent messages often claim to be from PennDOT, E-ZPass the PA Turnpike Commission, or other transportation agencies directing users to click a link and make an urgent payment or face penalties such as vehicle registration suspensions, driver’s license suspensions, fines, and other penalties. These links lead to phishing websites intended to compromise personal data.
What You Should Know:
- Do not click any links in texts or emails claiming to be from transportation agencies if you did not initiate the contact.
- To manage your toll account safely, use the official PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
- PennDOT does not collect toll payments.
If You Think You’ve Been Targeted:
- Log in to your E-ZPass or Toll By Plate account to check for suspicious activity.
- Call the PA Turnpike Commission’s Customer Service Center at 877-736-6727, Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
- Do not mail payments unless you have confirmed the request is legitimate through official channels.
- If you clicked a suspicious link or shared sensitive information, take immediate steps to secure your accounts and dispute unfamiliar charges. Scam attempts should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
“Scammers want you to panic and act fast. That’s their game,” Senator Flynn added. “Always take a moment to verify the information. If you are unsure, go directly to a trusted source like the official Turnpike website or app before taking any action.”
“If you are suspicious about any message, email or phone call you receive,” remarked Neilson, “make sure you err on the side of caution and verify the legitimacy of the call before making a payment, clicking a link or giving away personal information.”
“Anyone who has fallen victim to one of these scams can tell you how difficult and time consuming it is to recover and repair your good name, reputation and credit report,” added Benninghoff. “Time spent validating a request for personal information is a wise investment which could avoid a costly mistake.”
State Sen. Judy Ward
R-Blair
Majority Chair of Sen. Transportation
State Sen. Marty Flynn
D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe
Minority Chair of Sen. Transportation
State Rep. Ed Neilson
D-Philadelphia
Majority Chair of House Transportation
State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff
R-Centre/Mifflin
Minority Chair of House Transportation
July 17, 2025
SCRANTON, PA – July 17, 2025 – Senator Marty Flynn today announced that three Scranton-area organizations will receive a combined 330 laptops through Pennsylvania’s Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP). The funding, awarded by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, will support digital access across the region by providing laptops to nonprofits and community organizations who will make them available to residents.
“I’m proud to see this kind of funding directed to our area, because access to technology has become a major part of how our society functions, especially for our students,” said Senator Flynn. “These laptops will help students’ complete schoolwork, support adults taking job training courses, and give families better access to online services like healthcare and employment resources. For many of our students and adults pursuing education, having a computer at home is what allows them to participate fully in their classes and stay connected to their schools. This is a practical investment that meets real needs and helps people build opportunities for themselves.”
The Digital Connectivity Technology Program is part of a statewide effort to close the digital divide by supplying laptops to community anchor institutions and nonprofits. The program allows each organization to determine how best to loan or distribute the devices based on local needs.
Grant Awards Summary- Scranton, PA
- Recipients:
- Afree Foundation: 90 laptops
- Nativity Miguel School of Scranton: 140 laptops
- United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike: 100 laptops
- Purpose: To expand digital access by supporting education, workforce development, healthcare access, and employment services.
June 27, 2025
Scranton, PA − June 27, 2025 − Senator Marty Flynn today announced that more than $1.2 million in Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grants are coming to Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties to help local farms, nonprofits, and food producers expand capacity, modernize equipment, and strengthen the region’s food supply chain.
“This money will make a real impact on our communities. We’re talking about new cold storage in Lackawanna County and better processing and delivery in Luzerne County.” Senator Flynn said. “That means our farmers’ hard work ends up on local tables, more families get fresh meals, and our farmers and nonprofits have what they need to keep growing. It’s smart, it’s practical, and it’s exactly the kind of investment our area deserves.”
The funding comes through Pennsylvania’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program — a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture that Governor Josh Shapiro announced at the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show. The program offers matching grants for equipment, facility upgrades, and system-wide improvements to boost local food processing, distribution, and access.
Grant awardees in Senator Flynn’s district include:
Lackawanna County
- Friends of the Poor – $413,013 (Infrastructure Grant)
Establishing a centralized cold-storage food distribution hub to streamline nonprofit and farmer access to fresh food for thousands of residents in Lackawanna County.
Luzerne County
- The Food Dignity Project – $723,839 (Infrastructure Grant)
Building cold storage, processing, and delivery systems to support 29 farms and launch 15 new value-added products in Luzerne County.
- Michael Family Farm – $77,023 (Equipment-Only Grant)
Purchasing and installing on-farm dairy processing equipment to expand product offerings and markets for farms in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties.
June 13, 2025
Scranton, PA – June 13, 2025 − State Senator Marty Flynn today announced that two community-based education organizations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Luzerne County Community College, have been awarded a combined total of $781,200 through the Family Literacy Direct Service Grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
“This grant empowers both generations by making education a shared experience,” said Senator Marty Flynn. “Parents have the opportunity to return to the classroom, while their children begin their own educational journey with a strong foundation. These are the kinds of investments that lift up entire communities and create lasting pathways to opportunity.”
The funding will support literacy programs that help parents and caregivers strengthen their reading, writing, and workforce skills while also promoting early childhood education for their children. These services are designed to uplift entire families as a unit, improve educational outcomes, and increase access to economic mobility.
This grant is part of a statewide investment of more than $3.6 million to expand access to family literacy services across Pennsylvania. Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has dedicated over $10.6 million to support these programs. The Governor’s proposed 2025–26 budget includes a request for an additional $6 million in adult and family literacy funding.
Institutions receiving the Family Literacy Direct Service Grant include:
Lackawanna County:
- United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, $403,000
- To support adult and family literacy education including reading and writing skill development, early childhood learning, and parent education services.
Luzerne County:
- Luzerne County Community College, $378,200
- To provide comprehensive family literacy programming that integrates adult education, early learning, and parent-child engagement activities.
June 12, 2025
Scranton, PA – June 12, 2025 − State Senator Marty Flynn today announced that the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania has been awarded $491,820 through the State Endowment Act Funds, as approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
The grant will support the Rural Medical and Mental Health Pilot Project, a new initiative designed to extend the center’s trauma-informed services into rural areas of Lackawanna County. The project builds on the Center’s longstanding mission to provide child abuse victims with comprehensive medical evaluations, forensic interviews, advocacy, and mental health treatment in a safe, child-focused environment.
The award was part of a broader package of funding initiatives approved by PCCD at its most recent meeting. The State Endowment Act supports community-focused strategies that prevent violence, strengthen victim services, and enhance public safety across Pennsylvania.
Grant Award Detail – Lackawanna County
Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania
- Grant Amount: $491,820
- To support a Rural Medical and Mental Health Pilot Project aimed at expanding access to care for children and families in underserved areas.
