Is the Toll Road Text Scam real or a scam?

This is a confirmed scam. Do not click any links, do not provide personal information, and do not send money. This is a sms phishing scam.

What should I do if I received the Toll Road Text Scam?

Do not respond or click any links. Block the sender, report the message as spam, and delete it. If it came via text message, forward it to 7726 (SPAM).

What if I already fell for the Toll Road Text Scam?

Change your passwords immediately, contact your bank if you shared financial information, place a fraud alert on your credit, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report the Toll Road Text Scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and your local law enforcement. If it impersonated a specific company, report it to that company as well.

Toll Road Text Scam: Is It a Scam?

Very High Prevalence Type: SMS Phishing

Yes, this is a scam. Do not click any links or provide personal information.

Scammers send text messages claiming you have unpaid toll road charges from EZPass, SunPass, TxTag, or other toll systems. The texts threaten late fees or license suspension and link to phishing sites that steal your payment information.

How This Scam Works

You receive a text claiming you owe a small amount, typically $3 to $12, for unpaid tolls. The message threatens escalating late fees or reports to the DMV if you do not pay immediately. The link goes to a professional-looking fake toll payment page that asks for your name, address, license plate, and credit card information. The scammers capture all of this data. These texts are sent in massive waves and do not require the scammer to know whether you actually use toll roads. The small dollar amount makes victims less suspicious.

Red Flags to Watch For

Unsolicited text about unpaid tolls
Link URL does not match your toll authority's official website
Small dollar amount designed to seem trivial enough to just pay
Threats of late fees or DMV action
Toll authorities send bills by mail, not by text to unknown numbers

Example Scam Messages

Text: 'E-ZPass: You have an unpaid toll of $6.99. Pay within 24 hours to avoid a $50 late fee. Pay now: ezpass-pay-balance.com' --- Text: 'SunPass Notice: Your account has an outstanding balance of $4.15. Failure to pay may result in additional fees. Settle here: sunpass-tolls-pay.com/balance' --- Text: 'TxTag: Unpaid toll violation of $11.35 on your vehicle. Pay immediately to avoid registration hold: txtag-violation-pay.com'

What to Do If You Received This

Do not click the link
Check your toll account at the official website (ezpassva.com, sunpass.com, txtag.org, etc.)
Toll authorities send bills by mail and do not text random numbers
Delete the text

What to Do If You Fell For It

Contact your bank to report the compromised card
Request a new credit card number
Monitor your statements for unauthorized charges
If you entered your license plate, there is low risk but monitor for unusual DMV correspondence

How to Report This Scam

Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM)
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
Report to your state toll authority

Last updated: February 10, 2026