How the scam works
The text names a real-sounding agency (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, "Toll Services") and says you have an unpaid balance plus a late fee if you do not pay today. The link opens a convincing copy of the agency's site. Whatever you enter (card number, driver's license, address) goes to the scammer, who may then charge your card or use the details for identity theft (FTC, Jan 2025).
The FTC listed fake toll notices among the top text scams of 2024, a year in which people reported losing $470 million to scams that started with a text (FTC, Apr 2025). The FTC flagged the same scam again for summer road trips in June 2026.
Look up the number that contacted you
Carrier, line type and location are free. Private: nobody is notified.
Signs it is fake
- You were not driving on a toll road recently, or you have a transponder that pays automatically.
- The link is not the agency's real domain (look for misspellings, extra words or odd endings).
- It threatens extra fees, suspension of your license or legal action unless you pay immediately.
- It comes from an email address or a long or international number instead of a short code.
What to do
- Do not click the link or reply (even "STOP").
- Check your account by typing your toll agency's address yourself or using its official app.
- Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block the sender, then delete them. Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- If you entered card details, call your card issuer to cancel the card and dispute charges. If you entered your license number or SSN, go to IdentityTheft.gov.