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Unpaid Tolls? Not So Fast

Nationwide, there has been a large uptick in unpaid tolls cyber scams. According to news reports, these scams aim to steal money and personal information. Successful scammers impersonate E-ZPass, SunPass, and other regional state toll agencies. They claim that the recipient has unpaid toll fees. Scammers use text messages (SMS), emails, Phone calls, fake websites and QR codes. Recipients are directed to a link to “pay” the tolls — but the link is a phishing site or payment portal designed to steal personal or financial information.

So How Common Are Tolls Scams?

Unfortunately, toll scams cause widespread regional impact across multiple states. In fact New York’s MTA, Florida’s SunPass, and California’s FasTrak have issued public warnings over fake toll scam messages. Some of these warnings come every few months, showing it’s not just a one-time event. In summer 2023, a scam wave hit E-ZPass users across multiple states with reports estimating tens of thousands of users received scam texts in just a few weeks. These scams are easy to scale: a single campaign can send millions of text messages at low cost. Most people ignore or delete them, but even a small percentage of responses can lead to substantial financial gain for scammers.

Why Unpaid Toll Scams Are So Common

People are used to automatic billing and don’t always remember every toll trip.
The messages often looks official and include license plate numbers (sometimes scraped or guessed)
Toll amount (e.g., “You owe $12.76”)
Links to fake but convincing websites

Who’s Typically Affected

Drivers in toll-heavy areas, especially near cities or highways with electronic toll systems.
People who use E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, etc.
Older adults, or anyone who may not be familiar with how toll systems or phishing scams work.
Frequent travelers or commuters are often more likely to believe they could’ve missed a toll.

Estimated Total Cost of the Scam

While exact figures are difficult to pin down (due to underreporting and overlapping types of phishing), here’s what we found out:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported a surge in phishing scams in recent years, with unpaid toll scams being a significant contributor.
In 2023, the FTC reported that Americans lost over $10 billion to scams overall, with phishing and impersonation scams being a leading type.
Though toll scams are a slice of that, estimates suggest losses in the tens of millions of dollars annually from these specific scams.
Agencies like E-ZPass, TxTag, and SunPass have created FAQ pages, social media alerts, and public statements. Law enforcement and the FTC regularly urge the public to be cautious and report suspicious messages.

In short, these cyber scams are very common, particularly in regions with high toll road usage — and they’re growing because they exploit common behavior (forgetting a toll) and official-looking digital communication.

Here are Some Tips to Avoid Unpaid Toll Scams

You receive a text stating you have unpaid tolls and need to pay immediately. The text may show an amount you supposedly owe and includes a link to enter your bank or credit card information. Don’t click on links in unsolicited texts or emails.
If you receive a text, contact your state’s tolling agency using a known phone number or website, NOT from the information provided in the text. Verify directly with your toll provider through official websites or customer service numbers.
Look for typos or strange phrasing — a red flag for scams.
Enable alerts on your actual toll account so you know when charges happen. Clicking the link, responding to the message, or calling the number in the text connects you with scammers pretending to be from the state’s tolling agency. They may ask or prompt you to enter your credit card information and/or one-time passcode (OTP) generated by your bank.
Report and Delete: Use your phone’s “report junk” option to report unwanted texts or simply delete them.

Although this blog is about tolls, the same tips apply to any unsolicited message that urges you to act.