Unpaid toll text: is it a scam?
Almost certainly a scam. Texts saying you owe a small unpaid toll and must pay through a link are one of the most widespread scam messages in the US, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has issued public warnings about them. Real toll agencies bill you by mail or through your account, and you can always check your balance yourself on the agency's official site or app.
What it looks like
Toll Services Notice: Your vehicle has an outstanding toll balance of $6.99. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, pay by today: https://ezpass-tollservice.top/pay
An example in the style of real reports. The link is fake and shown as plain text so it can't be tapped.
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Signs it's fake
- A tiny amount with a big threat. A few dollars owed, plus a much larger late fee or a threat to suspend your licence.
- A deadline of today. The rush is there to stop you checking.
- A link that isn't the agency's website. The real domain often ends in
.top,.xyzor.info, or strings words together with hyphens. - A random sender. A personal-looking phone number, or an email address shown as a text.
- It doesn't match your life. Many people get these without having driven on a toll road at all.
What to do
- Don't tap the link or reply, not even with STOP.
- Check your balance by typing your toll agency's address yourself or opening its official app.
- Forward the text to 7726, then delete it.
- Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov.
Already tapped it? Follow our step-by-step guide: I clicked a suspicious link. Now what?
Common questions
Do toll agencies send text messages?
Some toll agencies send text alerts if you sign up for them, but you can always confirm a balance by logging in to the official site or app yourself. If a text pushes you to pay through a link you don't recognise, don't use it.
Why do scammers ask for such a small amount?
A few dollars feels too small to question. The real goal is your card number, address and sometimes a one-time code, which they then use for much larger purchases.
I paid the toll text. What should I do?
Call your card issuer on the number on the back of your card and ask them to block it and check for other charges. Then follow our guide on what to do after clicking a suspicious link.
The text names E-ZPass, SunPass or FasTrak. Is that one real?
Scammers copy the names of real toll services, including E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, TxTag and others. The name in the message proves nothing; only the official site or app can tell you what you owe.
Not sure about a link?
Paste it into SafeToHop. We read the address without opening it.