Unpaid Toll Texts? The FBI Says It's a Scam Targeting You
Published: March 24th, 2025.
If you’ve recently received a random text claiming you owe money for an unpaid toll road fee—whether or not you've ever driven on one—don’t be so quick to panic. That text probably isn’t from your state’s toll service. It’s a scam, and it’s spreading fast enough to have federal officials sounding the alarm.
The FBI and toll agencies across the U.S. have issued a fresh warning after more than 2,000 people filed complaints in just one month. Dubbed "smishing"—a blend of SMS and phishing—this new wave of fraud targets drivers (and even non-drivers) through text messages disguised as toll payment alerts.
Why should you care? Because these texts are not just annoying spam—they’re designed to steal your money, identity, or both.
The scam typically looks like this: You get a text. It appears to be from E-ZPass, EZDrive, or another toll agency, claiming you owe a small amount—maybe $3.95, maybe $12.55—along with a convenient link to “pay now” to avoid late fees. The amounts seem trivial, but paying and moving on is easy. But the real danger lies in that link.
If you click it, you risk handing over more valuable personal data, such as your credit card details, driver's license number, or Social Security number.
Additionally, these scam messages don’t just randomly pop up. They’re tailored to your area code to mimic local toll services, making them seem even more legitimate.
It all relates to how much of our daily lives have moved to mobile. More Americans use their phones to manage bills, monitor toll accounts, and handle everything from banking to package deliveries. Scammers know this and have become more sophisticated. Their messages are sharper, more aggressive, and alarmingly convincing.
In 2024 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 60,000 reports about these fake unpaid toll texts. That’s not a typo—60,000.
Even worse? Experts believe these numbers are the tip of the iceberg. Many victims are too embarrassed to report what happened or think the loss is too small to bother. But small amounts quickly add up—especially when they open the door to identity theft.
These scams work because they trigger a snap reaction:
- You think you owe money
- You want to avoid a fee or penalty
- You click without double-checking
Officials like DMV Director Amy Anthony caution that the goal is to get you flustered enough to act without thinking. Once they access your information, the damage can ripple across your bank accounts, credit cards, and identity records.
What can you do?
- Don’t click the link. Toll agencies like E-ZPass don’t text customers for payment—period
- Delete suspicious texts immediately
- Double-check independently. If you think you might owe a toll, log in to your account the usual way—not through a text
- Report it. File complaints with the FBI’s IC3. Include the phone number and any link listed in the message
If you’ve already clicked, act fast:
- Contact your bank and credit card companies
- Change passwords for related accounts
- Watch for unusual charges and know how to dispute them
The bottom line? A random $4 toll might not seem like much—but giving up your identity is a price no one should pay.