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    Toll Text Scam Decoder

    "You owe $6.99 for an unpaid toll" — these texts are fake. Here's why.

    Short answer: delete it

    The FBI's IC3 has warned millions of Americans about this exact scam. Real toll agencies (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, TxTag, etc.) do not text you about unpaid tolls. They mail you a paper bill.

    How to spot it (every red flag at once)

    • Small amount — usually $4 to $15. Just enough that you'd pay to "make it go away".
    • Urgent deadline — "pay by tomorrow or face a $50 late fee."
    • Strange link — usually NOT the real agency's website. Often ends in .top, .xyz, or has the agency name buried in a long address.
    • Comes from an out-of-area or foreign number.
    • Even works in states with no tolls — scammers don't know where you live.

    What to do

    1. Don't tap the link. If you already did and didn't enter card info, you're probably fine.
    2. If you DID enter your credit card — call the number on the back of your card right now and report it as a scam. Ask for a new card number.
    3. Forward the text to 7726 (spells SPAM). Your carrier blocks the sender.
    4. Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov.
    5. Delete the text and block the number.

    If you're worried it might be real

    Don't click anything in the text. Instead:

    • Type your toll agency's name into Google yourself (E-ZPass, SunPass, etc.).
    • Log in to your real account on the official site.
    • Or call the number on a paper bill or the back of your transponder.

    Same scam, different costume

    "USPS package can't be delivered" texts, "Bank of America fraud alert" texts, and "Your Apple ID has been disabled" texts all use the same playbook. If a text creates urgency, asks you to click a link, and threatens a small fee — it's a scam every time.