Toll Roads Notice Of Toll Evasion Text

A text message about unpaid toll road fees might make you panic, but don’t rush to pay before checking if it’s real. The FBI reports over 2,000 people complained about toll road text scams in three states last April. The Federal Trade Commission warned in January 2025 that scammers now pretend to be toll agencies everywhere across the country.

These clever toll roads scams use fake text messages that look like they’re from real toll payment companies like E-ZPass, FasTrak, and I-PASS. The FCC has seen many complaints about these fake messages. Toll operators rarely send texts about overdue payments and never use threats to make customers pay quickly.

“Smishing” combines “SMS” and “phishing” – a trick scammers use to steal drivers’ sensitive information. The scam texts show specific amounts for fake unpaid tolls and have links to fake websites that steal personal data. These messages often start with “Dear Customer” instead of your name, which shows the toll roads notice isn’t real.

How the Toll Road Scam Works

Toll road text scams have evolved and become more sophisticated over the last several years. These scams now target drivers across the United States with false claims about unpaid tolls. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center got more than 2,000 complaints about fraudulent toll collection texts from just three states in a single month. The numbers grew substantially, and they recorded over 60,000 complaints about the unpaid toll scam in 2024.

Fake toll alerts sent via text

The scam starts when drivers get unexpected text messages about outstanding toll amounts. These messages include specific dollar amounts and create urgency with tight deadlines. To name just one example, a scam text said: “The Toll Roads Notice of Toll Evasion: You have an unpaid toll bill on your account. To avoid late fees, pay within 12 hours or the late fees will be increased and reported to the DMV”.

Scammers cast a wide net by sending random messages instead of targeting actual toll users. They know some recipients will have used toll roads recently and might think the message is real. This explains why people get these fraudulent messages even in states without toll roads, like Idaho.

Scammers impersonating real toll agencies

Scammers make their schemes look legitimate by copying actual toll collection agencies in different regions. They tailor their messages based on where you live:

• California texts claim to be from FasTrak
• New York and 19 other states see fake E-ZPass messages
• Illinois residents get fake I-PASS notifications
• Florida drivers receive fake SunPass alerts

These criminals use spoofing technology to make their texts look like they come from official sources. Their messages often contain links that look just like official toll authority websites. One fraudulent text told recipients to “reply Y, then exit the text message and open it again to activate the link”. This technique tries to bypass security measures in phone messaging applications.

Phishing links and identity theft risks

These scams go beyond just collecting fake payments. Victims who click on text links end up on sophisticated phishing websites that collect:

• Credit card information
• Driver’s license numbers
• Personal identifying information
• Login credentials for legitimate toll accounts

These fake websites mirror official toll agency sites but have subtle differences. To name just one example, a fake E-ZPass Maryland site showed a highway scene from Orlando, misspelled “toll” as “tol,” and wouldn’t show detailed information unless payment came first.

Clicking these links puts you at serious risk. Scammers can steal your money, install malware on your device, or get enough personal data to steal your identity. The New York Department of State warns that scammers can take out loans or credit cards in your name once they have your personal information.

The FBI has tracked these scams to international operations. They found the original base in Canada in early 2024, but investigators believe the perpetrators now operate from the United States. These operations have grown rapidly, showing how profitable they are. Toll agencies like NC Quick Pass now get thousands of calls each day from people asking if these texts are real.

How to Spot a Fake Toll Roads Notice of Toll Evasion Text

You just need attention to detail to spot a toll roads notice of toll evasion text. Scammers have become more sophisticated in their approaches. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission warns drivers about these “smishing” scams that target random individuals with fake toll payment demands. You can protect your financial information and identity from theft by learning to identify these fraudulent messages.

Generic greetings and vague language

Legitimate toll agencies will address you by name in their communications. Scam texts use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” or “E-ZPass user” instead of your actual name. This lets scammers blast out mass messages without your personal details.

The text quality gives away these scams. You’ll notice poor writing with misspellings and grammar mistakes. Professional organizations maintain high standards that scammers don’t match. A text claiming to be from a toll service in a state you haven’t visited recently—or at all—is definitely fraudulent.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission reports that several rounds of smishing scams have targeted people with Pennsylvania area codes since April 2024. These texts claim to be from “PA Turnpike Toll Services” and ask for personal and financial information to pay supposed outstanding toll fees.

Suspicious URLs and payment methods

The included link might be the biggest red flag in a toll roads notice of toll evasion text message. Scammers create URLs that look like legitimate toll agency websites. A closer look shows some vital differences:

• The link’s first part might copy official toll authority domains, but the second half has weird extensions like “.sbs” or “.vip”
• Some texts want you to copy and paste a link or reply “Y” to “activate” it—tricks to get around security measures
• Gift cards or wire transfers as payment options almost always signal fraud

A clever scam recently showed up with a fake E-ZPass Maryland site. It used a highway scene from Orlando, spelled “toll” as “tol,” and wouldn’t show detailed information until payment was made.

Requests for urgent action or threats

Scammers love using urgency as their weapon. A real toll roads notice of toll evasion won’t push for immediate payment with threats. Pennsylvania Turnpike officials say alarming, urgent, or threatening language usually means it’s a scam.

These fake texts often use threats like:

“You must settle the balance within the next 12 hours to avoid severe penalties.” “Failure to pay will result in immediate fines, escalation to the DMV, and potential vehicle impoundment.” “Your credit score could be lowered.”

Real toll operators rarely send texts to collect overdue accounts and never use threats to push for quick payment. They know you might need time to handle billing issues and won’t pressure you for immediate payment.

These warning signs help protect you from toll roads text scams. The best thing to do when you get a suspicious text? Delete it without clicking links or responding.

How to Check If a Toll Text Is Legit

A text message about toll evasion needs your immediate attention to protect your personal information. Legitimate toll agencies use official channels to verify communications. These messages may look real, but you can easily check if they’re authentic.

Log into your toll account directly

The quickest way to verify is to skip the text message and go straight to the source. Toll agencies confirm they “do not send text messages requesting payment.” You should check your account status on your own:

1. Visit the official toll agency website directly by typing the URL into your browser
2. Log into your existing toll account to view any legitimate outstanding charges
3. Check notification verification systems if available

Toll agencies provide specific tools to verify messages. The Toll Roads customers can “verify valid text notifications by logging into their account. On the dashboard, scroll down to account security and click ‘Notification Verification'” or use their direct verification link. This feature helps customers identify legitimate or fraudulent communications.

Toll operators make it clear they “do not send text messages to non-accountholders.” The message is definitely fraudulent if you don’t have an account with the mentioned agency.

Use official customer service numbers

Your account check still leaves you unsure? Contact the toll agency through verified information:

• Call using numbers from your toll transponder, official website, or official documentation
• Never use phone numbers provided in suspicious texts
• Verify operating hours before calling (many have limited weekend availability)

Legitimate toll agencies maintain dedicated service lines. Riverside Express customer service center at (855) 951-1500, The Toll Roads at (949) 727-4800, or the 91 Express Lanes at (800) 600-9191 can quickly verify any unpaid tolls.

The Federal Trade Commission’s advice is simple: “Reach out to the state’s tolling agency using a phone number or website you know is real — not the info from the text.”

Avoid using links or contact info in the text

Safety comes first – never interact with suspicious texts. Officials warn drivers to:

• “Do not click on any links” in unexpected texts
• Avoid replying, even with “STOP” or “NO” responses
• Never call phone numbers included in suspicious messages
• Delete the message after reporting it

The FBI and FTC emphasize that legitimate toll agencies don’t initiate payment requests via text message. You should “delete it immediately” and “do not engage with the sender.”

Legitimate toll agencies give you enough time to address outstanding payments through proper channels. They understand you might want to verify charges and won’t push for immediate action through suspicious links.

What to Do If You Clicked or Responded

Quick action helps minimize damage to your finances and identity when you get caught in a toll roads notice of toll evasion text scam. The sooner you act after spotting the scam, the better your chances of protecting yourself.

Secure your financial accounts

Your first steps should focus on protecting your money:

1. Change passwords for all accounts you think might be affected, especially if you use similar passwords everywhere
2. Call your bank or credit card company through their official number on your card—never use contact details from the suspicious text
3. Cancel any cards that might be compromised and get new ones
4. Update automatic payments tied to your canceled cards

“The best way to protect yourself is to always use the DMV website or call our contact center to interact with us,” advised DMV Director Steve Gordon. Many toll agencies emphasize that they “will never reach out by text to ask for payment or personal information.”

Monitor for identity theft

Your next step is to watch for signs of fraud:

Watch your financial statements every day to spot unauthorized charges. Scammers usually test accounts with small charges before they try bigger fraud. You should also check your credit reports often—AnnualCreditReport.com lets you see them weekly at no cost.

Free credit monitoring services after a data breach are a great way to get extra protection. These tools watch your credit reports and let you know about suspicious activity like new accounts or credit checks.

Report to IdentityTheft.gov

The final step involves alerting proper authorities about these scams:

IdentityTheft.gov should be your first stop—this FTC website creates a recovery plan based on what personal information scammers took. You’ll get an FTC Identity Theft Report and easy-to-follow checklists and sample letters that guide your recovery steps.

The FTC adds your report to Consumer Sentinel, a secure database that law enforcement worldwide uses to track patterns and catch criminals. While they don’t handle individual cases, your report helps catch scammers.

A thorough response should include filing reports with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. You can also use your phone’s spam reporting features to help warn others.

How to Report a Toll Road Text Scam

Reporting toll scam texts helps authorities track and curb these fraudulent schemes. This protects your finances and other drivers. You should file official reports even after deleting suspicious messages. Law enforcement can identify patterns and catch criminals behind these operations with your help.

Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.FTC.gov

The Federal Trade Commission should be your first stop through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This official government portal collects information about various scams, including fraudulent toll roads notice of toll evasion text messages. Your detailed report about the message you received will help catch these scammers.

The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database makes your report available to over 2,800 law enforcement partners across the country. The FTC can’t resolve individual cases but uses these reports to investigate fraud patterns and build cases against scammers. They also share information about local threats and educate the public about new scams.

File a complaint with the FBI at IC3.gov

The IC3 gathers information about cyber-enabled crimes and shares this intelligence with law enforcement agencies. They receive many complaints and might not respond to each one. Your report still helps investigators understand the broader threat landscape and respond faster to these toll roads scams.

Use your phone’s spam reporting tools

Your phone’s built-in spam reporting features serve as your third line of defense. Forward suspicious toll roads notice of toll evasion text messages to 7726 (SPAM). Major carriers use this universal short code to identify and block scam messages.

You can also use your phone’s “report junk” option in your messaging app. After reporting, delete the message from your device to avoid clicking dangerous links later.

These reporting efforts help authorities find scam sources and shut down these operations. Your actions protect other drivers from falling victim to toll road text scams.

Stay Vigilant Against Toll Road Text Scams

Text scams targeting toll road users have become a major threat to drivers nationwide. Scammers keep improving their methods. These schemes are harder to spot right away. In spite of that, drivers can protect themselves if they know what to look for.

Reports of toll road scams have skyrocketed, proving how lucrative these schemes are for criminals. Law enforcement agencies throughout the country have stepped up their efforts to curb these fraudulent activities. The FBI’s tracking of international scam operations explains how complex these criminal networks have become.

Protection starts with prevention. Note that legitimate toll agencies rarely send text messages asking for payments. Real communications also address customers by name instead of using generic greetings.

Drivers should check their toll accounts directly through official websites if they get suspicious texts. Another safe option is to call verified customer service numbers to check for any real outstanding charges. This simple step helps avoid falling for phishing attempts.

Financial security experts say you should be very careful with unexpected toll texts. These messages might look real, but their urgent tone and threats give away their fake nature. Real toll agencies give you enough time to pay without trying to scare you.

People who have clicked on suspicious texts need to secure their accounts quickly. Reporting these scams helps authorities track and shut down these operations. The teamwork between alert drivers and law enforcement ended up creating better protection for everyone.

Toll road scams don’t just hurt individuals – they affect businesses and government agencies through higher security costs and lost work time. Everyone benefits from staying informed about these evolving threats.

Smart drivers who double-check through official channels stay protected from even the craftiest scams. You can stop these scams by checking your toll charges on legitimate websites or through customer service. This simple approach, combined with a healthy dose of doubt about unexpected texts, gives you the best defense against toll road scams.

Here are some FAQs about toll roads notice of toll evasion text:

How to dispute a toll road violation in California?

To dispute a toll road violation in California, you typically need to contact the agency listed on the violation notice—like FasTrak or The Toll Roads—either online or by phone. You’ll need to provide your license plate number, violation number, and any evidence that supports your case. If you’ve received something like a toll roads notice of toll evasion text or the toll roads notice of toll evasion text message, be cautious—these may be scams and should not be used to dispute violations.

Will Fastrak send me a text message?

FasTrak generally communicates through email or physical mail rather than text messages. If you receive something like a toll roads notice of evasion text or toll roads notice of toll evasion text message, you should verify its legitimacy before clicking any links. In many cases, these could be part of a toll roads texts scam designed to trick people into giving up personal or financial information.

What happens if you don’t pay toll violation in California?

If you don’t pay a toll violation in California, additional penalties will accrue over time, and the balance can eventually be sent to collections. Continued non-payment may lead to a DMV hold on your vehicle registration. Always verify any toll roads notice of toll evasion or toll roads notice of toll evasion text to ensure you’re dealing with a legitimate notice and not a scam.

How can I check if I have a toll violation in California?

You can check for toll violations by visiting the official websites of tolling agencies like FasTrak or The Toll Roads and entering your license plate number or violation notice number. Do not rely on suspicious messages such as the toll roads notice of toll evasion text or toll roads notice of toll evasion text message—these may be phishing attempts. Always use official channels to check your toll status.

Does FasTrak send notifications?

FasTrak can send notifications by email or through your account portal, but they typically do not send unsolicited text messages. If you receive a toll roads texts scam claiming to be from FasTrak, it’s best to avoid clicking on any links and to verify directly on their official website. Messages like toll roads notice of toll evasion text can often be fraudulent.

How do I check if a message is legitimate?

To check if a message is legitimate, verify the sender’s phone number or email, and never click on suspicious links. Cross-reference any claim, like a toll roads notice of toll evasion text, with the official website of the agency in question. Legitimate toll agencies do not typically use generic text messages to alert drivers of violations—many reported toll roads texts scam messages look convincing but are fake.

What happens if you respond to a spam text?

Responding to a spam text can confirm to scammers that your number is active, making you a target for future scams. Clicking links or providing information in response to something like a toll roads notice of toll evasion text message can lead to identity theft or financial loss. If you suspect a toll roads texts scam, report the message and delete it without interacting further.