Don't Let Toll Road Scammers Drive Away with Your Money: How to Spot Fake Texts

If you recently received a text message claiming that you owe money for an unpaid toll, check it thoroughly before taking any action. Scammers are currently targeting people in the U.S. and elsewhere with fake messages demanding immediate payment for toll roads.

The scam is easy to spot when you get a message about toll charges from a state you've never visited, or if you don't even own a car or have a driver's license.

But if you drive frequently on highways with tolls, you could easily fall for the trick. And it wouldn't be your fault. Scammers carefully copy genuine messages, making them look very real and even tailoring them to appear local. For instance, if you live in California, the text might claim it's from FastTrak. If you're in New York or another state that uses EZ Pass, it will likely pretend to come from EZ Pass.

This isn't just happening in the United States, either. In Australia, for example, scammers have been sending fake texts that pretend to come from toll operators such as Linkt, telling recipients their accounts have insufficient funds or unpaid toll charges.

Here's what you need to know about toll road scams—and what you should do if you receive one of these suspicious messages.

How the Toll Road Scam Works

You suddenly get a text message saying you owe money for unpaid tolls and need to settle it right away. The message includes a specific amount and pressure you into immediate action by adding warnings about late fees or legal trouble.

Typically, the text also includes a link. When you click it, you're taken to a fake website that looks very convincing. Here, the scammers ask you to enter your bank details, credit card information, or even sensitive personal details like your driver's license number. But the whole setup is a phishing scam—a trap designed to steal your money, personal information, or even your identity.

Here are some real-life examples of scam texts people have reported:

"Please pay your toll in Florida by January 21, 2025. To avoid excessive late fees and potential legal action, pay promptly. Thank you for your cooperation, and wish you a pleasant holiday." (followed by a suspicious website link)

Other texts might try different tactics, instructing you not to directly click the link but to copy and paste it into your browser. For instance:

"Pay your FastTrak Lane tolls by February 13, 2025. To avoid a fine and keep your license, please pay at [fake website]. (Please reply Y, exit the message, reopen it, or copy the link directly into your Safari browser)."

Some scam messages keep it short and simple:

"You have an unpaid toll bill on your account. Pay within 12 hours to avoid increased late fees and being reported to the DMV."

Authorities Are Tracking Toll Road Scams Nationwide, but It's Up to You to Stay Safe

Both the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have received thousands of complaints about these scams. Last April, the FBI recorded over 2,000 complaints about fake toll-collection texts targeting at least three states. The FTC issued a fresh warning in January, stating scammers continue to pretend they're toll authorities from various regions around the country.

In their advisory, the FTC warned consumers: "Whether you've driven through a toll recently or not, you might've gotten a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls. It's probably a scam. Not only is the scammer trying to steal your money, but if you click the link, they could get your personal info."

What's a Smishing Scam?

You might have heard of phishing, where scammers use fake emails to trick you. Smishing is similar, except scammers use text messages. It's short for "SMS phishing." Criminals send fraudulent texts aiming to get people to hand over personal details, download malware onto their phones, or directly send money.

What to Do If You Receive a Scam Text About Unpaid Tolls

Don't click on any links in the message. Instead, follow these steps:

Check the link first:

Use Bitdefender's Link Checker (it's free and takes just seconds) to find out if the link is safe.

Bitdefender Link Checker

Alternatively, you can copy the entire text message into Scamio to quickly confirm if it's a scam. Scamio is available on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and your web browser. You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia, and the UK.

2. Visit the official toll service website directly:

Instead of trusting the text, go to your state's legitimate toll website and check if you actually owe any toll fees. You can also call their official customer service line to confirm.

3. Report and delete the scam message:

Before deleting the message completely, mark it as junk or spam using your phone's built-in reporting tool, if available.
Submit a complaint to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Include details such as the sender's phone number and any fake websites from the text.

4. If you already clicked the link or provided personal info:

Act quickly to protect yourself. Immediately check your financial accounts for any suspicious activity, report unfamiliar transactions to your bank, and consider changing your passwords to keep your accounts safe.

Our solutions also shield you from scams and phishing attacks. If you want complete protection, Bitdefender Ultimate Security provides a strong defense designed for individuals and families. For entrepreneurs and small businesses, Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security is built specifically to protect your business from scammers and hackers. Both packages include powerful tools that keep your devices safe and guard your personal details and financial information from all kinds of cyber threats, including tricky scams.