Has a toll company contacted you by text, email, or phone urgently requesting a payment? Have they threatened excessive fees or potential legal action if you don’t pay right away? These are the tell-tale signs of a toll scam. Learn how toll scams work, how to spot them, and what you can do to keep your money and identity safe.
Imagine you're in the middle of your day when a text pops up: “URGENT: Unpaid toll detected. Pay now to avoid penalties.”
It looks official, maybe even includes your state’s toll agency name and a link to pay. You pause—did you actually miss a toll? Is your car registration at risk?
This kind of message is showing up more often, and it’s part of a growing scam. Fraudsters are posing as toll authorities to trick people into paying bogus fees. And they aren’t just after an easy payday—they’re also after your personal information, which can lead to more fraud incidents down the road.
Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) flagged this scheme, warning that scammers use texts, emails, and even phone calls to create a sense of urgency—just enough to make you panic-click your way into their trap.
How toll scams work
Every toll scam starts with the scammers reaching out to a potential victim requesting payment on a “charge”, “invoice”, or “toll bill” that is supposedly related to their vehicle.
These communications typically include several elements intended to trick you into thinking they’re legitimate: the date the supposed toll was incurred, the amount owed, the possible fees associated with a late payment, the name of your local toll agency such as E-ZPass or FasTrak, and even an associated link where you can make a payment. (In fact, fraudsters have registered over 10,000 of these domains where they direct unsuspecting victims to pay their balance.)
All of these elements can make the message seem legit, so it’s no surprise many people end up paying before they realize it’s a scam. Here are a few more tricks scammers use to reel people in:
Fake urgency: These fake notices usually have language like “Final notice! Pay now or face penalties!” or may include a date or timeframe in which you must pay your balance.
Threats: Scammers warn of extra fees, late fines, license suspension or even legal action.
Phony links: Clicking takes you to a lookalike toll agency website designed to steal your payment info like bank account numbers and credit or debit card details. They may also try to steal personal information like your address, date of birth, and more.
Toll scam reports from across the country
California: Bay Area drivers are getting bombarded with fake texts pretending to be from FasTrak.
New York: Drivers report scam messages from E-ZPass, threatening license suspensions.
Texas: Fraudsters are impersonating TxTag, tricking people into paying fake balances.
Florida: Scammers are targeting SunPass users with fake payment alerts via text and email.
How to spot a toll scam
With the FBI reporting over 2,000 complaints related to toll scams in a single month last year, it’s likely that if you haven’t been targeted by a toll scam, you will be eventually. That’s why it’s so important to be vigilant and know how to spot a toll scam.
The most important thing to know is that toll agencies will not request payment through text or by phone. While some may send account updates or other communications by email, they won’t include a link where you can pay your toll balance.
Most toll agencies will send your toll bills by mail using the address on your vehicle registration. So, if you receive an email, text, or phone call requesting payment, you should immediately be suspicious. If you receive a toll payment request, run through this quick checklist:
Did you actually drive through a toll road? If not, it’s an obvious scam. If you did drive through a toll road and the communication includes a date, do a quick mental check to see where you were on that day.
Does the message have a weird link? Real toll agencies don’t ask for payments through random links. They generally accept payment by mail or online at the official toll website.
Are there threats of legal action? Tolling authorities don’t operate like mafia bosses. Scare tactics are a red flag.
How to steer clear of toll scams
If you get one of these messages, don’t panic. Hit the brakes and double-check before doing anything. Scammers count on you reacting quickly out of fear, but when you know what to look for, it’s much easier to avoid getting caught up.
Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) and let your toll agency know. Reporting it can help stop the scam from spreading.
And if a toll scam turns out to be part of a bigger identity theft issue, we’re here to help untangle the damage—reach out to us anytime.
