In recent months, a sophisticated text message scam has swept across the United States, leaving countless drivers confused and concerned about supposed unpaid toll charges. With transportation authorities from Virginia to California issuing urgent warnings, this fast-growing scheme has already claimed numerous victims who believed they were simply settling legitimate toll debts. Instead, they found themselves caught in an elaborate trap designed to steal both money and personal information.
Overview of the Unpaid Toll Payment Scam
The Unpaid Toll Scam represents one of the most widespread and rapidly evolving digital fraud schemes targeting American drivers today. This sophisticated scam operates through unsolicited text messages that claim to be from legitimate toll authorities, informing recipients they have outstanding toll payments that require immediate attention.
What makes this scam particularly dangerous is its calculated approach. The messages typically create a sense of urgency by threatening legal consequences, license suspension, or rapidly escalating fines if payment isn’t made promptly. They often include specific dollar amounts (usually between $12-50) to appear authentic and reference real toll systems like E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, or regional turnpike authorities.
The scam text would look like:
Your vehicle has an unpaid toll bill. To avoid excessive late fees on your bill, please settle it promptly. Thank you for your cooperation!
Total amount: $6.99
Payment: https://ezdrivema.com- ioiakyu.top/l
(Please reply Y, then exit the SMS and open it again to activate the link, or copy the link to your Safari browser and open it)
Disclaimer: Scammers changes fake domain time to time so don’t fall in their trap. In your case, they can target you with different fake domain. So, beware about the scam.
Callista Rayne of Florida experienced this firsthand when she received two suspicious text messages about unpaid tolls. Having recently traveled on toll roads in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico, the messages seemed plausible.
“I’ve never been through a toll, and I didn’t know what to expect. So, when I got the text message, I didn’t think anything about it,” Rayne explained in a recent interview with Shoppersvila.
Following the instructions in the text, Rayne copied and pasted a link into her Safari browser, which led her to a professional-looking payment page. When her debit card was “denied,” the site prompted her to try different cards—a common tactic allowing scammers to harvest multiple card numbers from a single victim.
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which named this one of the emerging scams of 2024, approximately 800 people reported falling victim to the scheme last year. The FBI’s figures are even more alarming, with more than 2,000 complaints about toll-related “smishing” scams received from just three states by April of last year.
How Scammers Hook Their Victims
What makes this scam particularly effective is its careful targeting and psychological manipulation. The scammers leverage several techniques:
Strategic Timing
Many victims report receiving these messages shortly after traveling through areas with toll roads, suggesting scammers may be targeting people based on location data or travel patterns.
Creating Urgency
Messages typically include tight deadlines—sometimes as short as 24-48 hours—to create panic and force quick, unthinking responses.
Professional Presentation
Victims consistently describe the payment pages as “professional looking” with official-seeming logos, realistic layouts, and convincing payment interfaces.
Varied Approach Methods
The scam has evolved to include multiple contact methods:
- Text messages with direct links
- Messages instructing recipients to copy and paste links (to avoid detection)
- Instructions to reply “Y” to “activate” links
- Some even include false confirmation codes to appear legitimate
“It was actually professional looking. I didn’t see any red flags with it. I honestly didn’t,” said Rayne about the payment page she encountered.
Red Flags: How to Spot the Unpaid Toll Payment Text Scam
Transportation authorities and cybersecurity experts have identified several warning signs that can help drivers identify these fraudulent messages:
- Unexpected messages: Legitimate toll authorities typically send notices via postal mail, not text messages.
- Foreign country codes: Many of the scam texts originate from non-US phone numbers. One common indicator is the +63 country code (Philippines).
- Unusual email addresses: Messages claiming to be from official toll agencies but sent from Outlook, Gmail, or other personal email domains.
- Generic greetings: Messages that don’t include your name, account number, or specific vehicle information.
- Suspicious links: URLs that don’t match official toll authority websites, often containing random characters or unusual domain extensions (.sbs, .vip, .top, etc.).
- Unusual payment methods: Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
- Poor grammar and spelling: While increasingly sophisticated, many scam messages still contain linguistic errors.
How to Protect Yourself from Toll Text Scams
If you receive a text about unpaid tolls, follow these expert-recommended steps to protect yourself:
Verify Independently
Don’t use any links or phone numbers provided in the suspicious message. Instead, visit the legitimate toll authority’s website directly by typing the official URL into your browser or searching for it online.
Contact Official Agencies
If you’re concerned about potential unpaid tolls, call the official customer service number for your regional toll authority. These can typically be found on your state’s Department of Transportation website.
Report the Scam
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM)
- Use your phone’s “report junk” feature
- Report to the BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker
- File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov
Strengthen Your Digital Security
- Enable two-factor authentication on financial accounts
- Consider using a credit card (rather than debit) for online payments, as credit cards offer better fraud protection
- Regularly monitor your accounts for unauthorized charges
- Consider using a password manager and unique passwords for different accounts
Legitimate Toll Authorities vs. Scam Sites
To help differentiate between legitimate toll authority websites and fraudulent ones, here’s a reference guide covering major toll systems across the United States:
| State/Region | Legitimate Toll Authority | Official Website | Common Scam Domain Patterns |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | FasTrak | fastrak.com | fastrak-pay.com, fastrak-ca.vip |
| Florida | SunPass | sunpass.com | sunpass-[random].com |
| Illinois | I-PASS | illinoistollway.com | ipass-pay.com, illinoistoll.vip |
| Massachusetts | E-ZPassMA | ezdrivema.com | ezdrivema-unpaid.com, ezdrivema-[random].vip |
| New Jersey/New York | E-ZPass | ezpassnj.com, ezpassny.com | ezpass-nypay.com, ezpassny-toll.vip |
| Pennsylvania | PA Turnpike | paturnpike.com | paturnpike-ez.com, paturnpike.vip |
| Texas | TxTag | txtag.org | txtag-payment.com, txtag.org-[random].sbs |
| Virginia | E-ZPass Virginia | ezpassva.com | ezpassva-pay.com, ezpassva.vip |
Remember: Legitimate toll authorities will not initiate contact via text message to request payment. Official communications typically come through postal mail or via your registered toll account.
What to Do If You’ve Fallen Victim
If you’ve already clicked on a link or provided payment information to a suspected scam site, immediate action is crucial:
Financial Protection
- Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report fraud and potentially freeze or replace your cards
- Monitor all financial accounts closely for unauthorized transactions
- Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion)
Identity Protection
- Change passwords for any accounts that may be compromised
- Monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity
- Consider identity theft protection services
- Be alert for additional scam attempts, as victims are often targeted multiple times
Documentation and Reporting
- Document everything related to the scam, including text messages, screenshots, payment receipts, and any communication with the scammers
- Report the incident to:
- Your local police department
- The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Your state’s Attorney General’s office
The Growing Threat of Unpaid Toll “Smishing”
This toll scam is part of a broader trend of “smishing” attacks—a term combining “SMS” and “phishing.” According to cybersecurity experts, smishing attempts increased by over 300% in 2023-2024, with toll-related scams representing one of the fastest-growing categories.
Unlike traditional phishing emails, smishing attacks leverage the immediacy and personal nature of text messages. Most people read texts within minutes of receiving them, and mobile devices often display shortened URLs that mask suspicious elements of fraudulent links.
“The toll road scams are particularly effective because they target something many people do routinely and may not track carefully,” explains Melanie McGovern, a spokesperson for the BBB. “When people receive these messages, they often think they might have missed a toll payment during recent travel.”
As transportation agencies and law enforcement work to combat this growing threat, the most effective defense remains an informed public. By understanding how these scams operate and taking proactive steps to verify any payment requests, drivers can protect themselves from becoming the next victims of this nationwide scheme.
Remember: legitimate toll authorities do not send text messages requesting payment. When in doubt, verify independently through official channels, and never click suspicious links or share personal financial information in response to unexpected messages.
