Hit with a Toll Roads Scam Text? Here's What to Do

Scammers across the U.S. are targeting drivers with phishing texts that falsely claim unpaid toll fees, exploiting fears of penalties to steal personal information and money. Authorities and consumer advocates are urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid clicking suspicious links in such messages.

What Is the Toll Roads Scam?

The toll scam targets unsuspecting drivers by impersonating legitimate toll services, including FastTrak in California and EZdriveMA in Massachusetts. Scammers send texts claiming the recipient owes toll fees, often specifying an amount and directing them to click a link to pay. These scams aim to steal sensitive data like credit card details or driver's license numbers.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that the texts appear authentic, sometimes linking to legitimate websites to deceive consumers. Bonta said that the texts are meant to "deceive drivers into entering banking or credit card information into a website."

Why It Matters

Text-based toll scams, a rising form of phishing, exploit consumer trust to steal financial and personal information. These scams often target drivers nationwide, with impersonators mimicking toll agencies and leveraging fear of penalties to pressure victims into paying.

What Do the Toll Road Scam Texts Look Like?

The fraudulent messages often:

• Claim unpaid toll fees with a specified amount.
• Provide a link to a fake payment portal.
• Mimic toll agencies' branding appears legitimate.

Melanie McGovern, director of public relations at the Better Business Bureau, told Business Insider that the best method to spot a phishing scam is to check from where the text or email came. Phone numbers with an international area code can signal deception.

Toll operators like FastTrak and EZdriveMA confirm they do not send texts for toll collection to non-account holders, urging recipients to treat such messages as phishing attempts​.

What to Do If You Get a Scam Text

Experts recommend these steps if you receive a suspicious toll text:

1. Do not click any links or respond. Clicking links could expose your personal data or allow scammers to install malware.
2. Verify the message. Contact your tolling agency using official numbers or websites, not the ones provided in the text.
3. Report the scam. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) to report it and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
4. Delete the message. Once reported and verified, remove the text to avoid accidental clicks​.

What People Are Saying

Drivers have taken to social media to share concerns over toll roads scam texts.

On Reddit user named u/Kindly-Note-5446 commented on a post and said, "The numbers and variations of scams are way out of hand. Be wary of notifications that 'require' you to act immediately." The user posted the comment a month ago.

Another Reddit user named u/SoulTesla714 commented on the same post and said, "First thing I did was show the older family members in our family with iPhones, two of them got the same text and were trying to figure if they used the toll roads. Mind you, we have an account for our vehicles that auto pays."

What's Next

Authorities and toll operators are working to combat the rise of phishing scams, increasing public awareness through alerts and recommendations. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers further guidance on avoiding scams at ftc.gov/textscams .

With phishing tactics evolving, staying informed and cautious remains the best defense for drivers against these scams.