Toll Road Unpaid Fee Text Scam Examples
Texts falsely claiming to be from a toll authority say you owe a small unpaid toll fee and link to a phishing site that steals payment card details.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
[State] Toll Services: You have an outstanding toll balance of [amount]. Avoid a [amount] penalty — pay now: [fake link]
NOTICE: Unpaid toll on [highway name] on [date]. Amount due: [amount]. Failure to pay by [date] may result in vehicle registration hold. Pay: [fake link]
Your E-ZPass account shows an unpaid toll of [amount]. Update payment info to avoid additional fees: [fake link]
Final notice: [State] Turnpike Authority. Unpaid toll of [amount] recorded. Late fee of [amount] applies after [date]. Pay here: [fake link]
What the scammer wants
To get you to enter your card number and billing details on a cloned payment page, enabling fraud charges and identity theft.
Red flags in the message
- Text arrives from an unknown number, not a short code you enrolled with
- The link domain does not match the official toll authority website
- A small fee with a disproportionately large penalty creates urgency
- You are asked to enter full card details rather than log into your account
- The message arrives even if you have not recently used a toll road
A safe response
Do not tap the link. Log in directly to your toll account via the official app or website to check for real outstanding balances, and delete the text.
What not to send
- Card number and CVV
- Bank account details
- Social Security or driver licence number
What to do if you already replied
- Contact your bank or card issuer to report potential fraud and request a new card
- Monitor your statements for unauthorised charges
- Report the phishing text to your carrier by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM) and to the FTC
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times