I received a text saying I have an unpaid toll and need to pay immediately to avoid a fine — is this a scam?
This is a widely reported smishing (text-message phishing) scam. Scammers send fake toll payment texts claiming an outstanding balance, linking to a fraudulent payment page that captures card details, regardless of whether you've actually driven on a toll road recently.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Explanation
Toll payment smishing texts are typically sent in mass batches to phone numbers with no actual connection to the toll road or vehicle mentioned, relying purely on the volume of messages sent and the plausibility of the claim for a percentage of recipients to have genuinely used a toll road recently. The text usually threatens an additional fine or late fee if payment isn't made within a short window, creating urgency, and links to a page that closely mimics the real toll authority's website, requesting card details for the supposedly overdue amount.
These scams often spread quickly after being reported in one region, then get adapted with different toll authority names to target other areas, since the underlying page and technique remain the same regardless of which toll road brand is used in the message. Because toll violations and fines are a genuinely normal part of driving in areas with toll roads, the claim doesn't need to be especially convincing to prompt a percentage of recipients into paying without checking further.
Genuine toll authorities typically allow you to check your account or any outstanding balance directly through their own official website or app, without needing to click a link in an unsolicited text, and legitimate toll notices are usually sent through mail or an account you've already registered rather than out of the blue by text with an urgent short deadline.
Common red flags
- Text claims an unpaid toll with a threat of an additional fine if not paid within hours
- Link leads to a payment page with a web address that doesn't exactly match the toll authority's known domain
- Message doesn't reference a specific toll road, vehicle, or account you actually use
- Sender's number is an unfamiliar short code or foreign number rather than the toll authority's known contact
- Urgency language pushing for immediate payment without normal notice periods
- Request for full card details including the security code on the linked page
What to do now
- Don't click the link — check any toll account balance directly through the toll authority's official app or website
- Verify whether you've actually used a toll road recently before assuming the message could be accurate
- Report the text as spam or phishing through your phone's built-in reporting feature
- If you already entered card details on the linked page, contact your bank immediately
- Check the sender's number and compare it against the toll authority's known official contact channels
- Warn family members, especially those less familiar with these scams, that such texts are circulating
Frequently asked questions
Why do I get toll payment scam texts even if I don't drive or haven't used a toll road recently?
These texts are sent in bulk to large numbers of phone numbers with no actual connection to toll usage, relying on the fact that a percentage of recipients will have genuinely used a toll road recently and may pay without checking.
How can I check if I actually owe a toll payment?
Log into your toll account or check your vehicle's toll history directly through the toll authority's official app or website, rather than through any link provided in an unsolicited text message.