Unpaid toll text scams: how to spot them
A text says you owe a small toll and must pay today through a link, or face fees.
Could you spot it?
3 quick examples. Decide scam or legit for each.
How it works
The text names a toll service, a small unpaid amount (often under $10) and a deadline of a day or two. It threatens late fees, a suspended license or a court referral. The link goes to a copy of a payment page that takes your card details.
The small amount is the hook: it feels too minor to question. Scammers send these to everyone, including people who have never used a toll road.
Red flags
- You didn't expect it, and it's urgent: pay today or face fees.
- The link isn't the toll agency's own website.
- It threatens your license, registration or a court case over a few dollars.
- It came from a random phone number or an email address, not a short code you signed up for.
What it looks like
You drove through a toll plaza last month.
The tells:
- A deadline of hours, and a big late fee over a few dollars.
- The real website is the part just before the first “/”: com-paycenter.top. That isn't a toll agency.
- Asking you to reply so your phone switches the link on is a trick to get past your phone's spam protection.
- Threatening your registration over $6.89.
A training example written for this site. Names, numbers and links are made up, and links are disabled.
What to do
- Don't click the link or reply.
- Check your toll account by typing the official website yourself, or calling the number on your toll pass or statement.
- Report the text by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it.
If you already paid or shared information
- Contact the company you used to pay (your bank, card company, gift card company, payment app or wire service) right away and ask them to reverse the payment.
- If you shared a password, change it now and turn on two-factor authentication.
- If you gave out your Social Security number or other ID details, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For scams that happened online, you can also report to the FBI at ic3.gov.
From FTC: What to do if you were scammed.
Latest alerts about this scam
No recent FTC, CISA or FBI alerts are tagged with this scam. The guidance below still applies.
Sources
- FTC: Got a text about unpaid tolls? It's probably a scam
- FTC: That text about a traffic violation is probably a scam
Related scams
Delivery texts and emails
A message says a package can't be delivered until you confirm your address or pay a small fee.
Fake bank fraud alerts
A text or call from your “bank's fraud team” about a charge, then a request for a code or to move your money.
Government impostors
Someone claiming to be from a government agency says you're in trouble and must pay or “verify” now.