Watch Out for Fake Toll Road Payment Texts This Holiday Season

This Thanksgiving, tens of millions of Americans are expected to hit the road to visit friends and family for the holidays. Scammers will be thankful, too, since all of this travel will make it easier to convince potential victims that they missed paying a toll while on their way to Grandma’s house.

As record numbers of drivers navigate unfamiliar highways and out-of-state turnpikes, Fraud.org is warning consumers to beware of “smishing” (SMS phishing) attacks involving fake toll collection notices.

Anatomy of a Toll Impersonation Scam

These scams typically arrive as an unsolicited text message claiming to be from a state toll collection service or turnpike authority like E-ZPass, FasTrak, or I-PASS. The message usually states that you have an “outstanding toll balance” or “overdue invoice,” often for a small, believable amount like $4.95 or $11.50.

To create panic and force a rushed decision, the text may falsely claim that failure to pay immediately will result in steep late fees, administrative penalties, or even legal consequences. The message contains a link directing you to a look-alike website designed to mimic an official state toll portal, where your credit card information, personal details, and login credentials can be cleanly harvested.

Red Flags to Watch For

• High-Pressure Tactics: Scammers rely on urgency, threatening immediate fines or late charges if you don’t click and pay right away.
• Unfamiliar Jurisdictions: The text might cite a toll agency from a state you haven’t visited, or feature generic titles that don’t match your local transit authorities.
• Suspicious Links: The embedded web addresses often use unofficial domains, misspellings, or weird extensions instead of a secure .gov portal.
• Non-Standard Payment Requests: Legitimate toll agencies process payments through secure account portals, not via untrusted links, gift cards, or wire transfers.

Practical Tips to Stay Safe

If an unexpected text lands on your phone regarding unpaid road fees, keep these rules in mind:

• Slow Down and Do Not Engage: Never reply to the text, click on embedded links, or press buttons like “Y” or “N” to opt-out, as this signals to scammers that your number is active.
• Verify Independently: If you suspect you might actually owe a toll, look up your state’s official transportation website or customer service phone number directly. Never use the contact info or links provided in the text message.
• Report and Block: Forward the spam text to 7726 (SPAM) to help your mobile carrier block future messages, use your phone’s built-in “report junk” feature, and block the sender.

Take Action: Fight Back Against Fraud

Spike the scammers’ holiday plans by helping authorities track these deceptive operations. If you receive a fraudulent toll collection text — whether you lost money or caught it in time — file a detailed complaint with Fraud.org. Your reports give law enforcement and consumer protection agencies the data needed to investigate scammers and identify policy gaps that could better protect us all.