The “Unpaid Toll” Text Scam Wave Is Spiking—Here’s a Step-by-Step Plan That Works
Problem statement (what’s happening and why it’s hard)
If you’ve received a text claiming you owe a small toll (often with urgent language like “pay now to avoid late fees” or “license suspension”), you’re seeing a fast-growing smishing campaign. Multiple U.S. agencies and consumer-protection offices have issued alerts in 2025, and national reporting has highlighted how broadly these messages are hitting people—including residents in places with few or no toll roads. [2], [4], [5]The tricky part: the scam looks plausible, arrives by SMS/iMessage, and uses urgency. A single tap can lead to a convincing mobile payment page designed to steal card details and personal information. State DMVs and toll authorities keep repeating “we don’t text you to pay,” but people still need a clear workflow for (1) verifying without clicking, (2) reporting, (3) recovering if they already interacted. [3], [4], [5]
Solution 1: The “Verify Without Clicking” method (2 minutes)
Goal: confirm whether you actually owe anything without using the link in the text.
Step-by-step
1. Do not tap the link (even “just to look”). Don’t reply. 2. Open your toll account the safe way: - Use a bookmark you already saved, or type the known official site yourself. - Or open the official toll app (if you already have it installed). 3. If you don’t have an account, search for your state’s toll program using a trusted source (state DOT site) and then type that address manually. 4. Check for matching details: - Do you actually drive in toll areas? - Does your real account show a balance/notice? 5. If you’re still unsure, call customer service using a number from the official website—not from the text message.Quick checklist: “Is this almost certainly a scam?”
- [ ] The message threatens immediate penalties or license suspension
- [ ] The link is shortened or has a weird domain
- [ ] The agency name is slightly off (“E‑ZPass Toll Services,” etc.)
- [ ] You’re being pushed to pay by text
(Several state agencies explicitly note they do not request toll payments by text and warn users not to click the link.) [3], [4], [5]
Solution 2: Report it correctly (so it gets blocked faster)
Reporting matters because carriers and platforms use reports to improve blocking.
On iPhone (Messages)
1. Open the message thread. 2. Tap Report Junk/Report Spam (when available). 3. Tap Delete and Report Junk/Spam.Apple documents the “Report Junk/Spam” flow and notes that you can also block the sender to stop further messages. [6], [7]
On Android (Google Messages)
1. Press and hold the conversation. 2. Tap Block and/or Report spam (wording varies by version). 3. Confirm.(Separately, Google has been rolling out additional scam-detection protections in Google Messages, which can help flag suspicious texts.) [8]
Also report to consumer protection
- File a report with the FTC (U.S.) and keep screenshots/transaction IDs if money was lost.
FTC data shows text-message-initiated scams remain a major and costly issue, and “unpaid toll” lures are among frequently reported scam types. [1]
Solution 3: If you clicked (or paid), do this in the next 30 minutes
Goal: contain financial and identity damage.
Step-by-step damage control
1. If you entered card details: - Call the number on the back of your card. - Ask to freeze the card, dispute charges, and replace the card. 2. If you entered login info (email/password): - Change the password immediately. - Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA). - If you reused that password anywhere else, change those too. 3. If you entered driver’s license or personal details: - Monitor credit and consider placing a fraud alert. 4. Scan your device hygiene (basic): - Remove any unknown profiles/apps (especially if you were prompted to install anything). - Update your OS. 5. Report it (platform + FTC). Keep evidence.Some state alerts recommend contacting your financial institution promptly if you submitted information to a fake toll form. [3]
Solution 4: Reduce future smishing (a practical prevention setup)
This won’t stop all scam texts, but it can reduce volume and risk.
10-minute prevention checklist
- [ ] Enable spam filtering in your messaging app (where available)
- [ ] iPhone: turn on filtering and use “Report Spam/Junk” consistently [6], [7]
- [ ] Keep iOS/Android updated
- [ ] Don’t use the same password across email/banks/toll accounts
- [ ] Turn on MFA for your email (email compromise makes everything easier for scammers)
- [ ] Save official toll sites as bookmarks so you never need to rely on text links
FAQ
1) I don’t even live near toll roads—why did I get this?
Because the campaign is broad and untargeted; officials have warned that even states without toll roads can be targeted. [2]2) How do I know if a toll text is legitimate?
Treat toll-payment-by-text as suspicious by default. Verify by logging into your account via a known official site/app or calling an official number—not the text link. State agencies explicitly warn they don’t send payment-demand texts. [3], [4], [5]3) I clicked the link but didn’t enter anything. Am I safe?
Risk is lower, but not zero. Close the page, delete the text, update your phone, and watch for follow-up scams. If anything was downloaded/installed, take additional cleanup steps.4) What should I do with the message—just delete it?
Report it first (platform reporting helps blocking), then delete it. Apple provides steps for reporting spam/junk in Messages. [6], [7]Key Takeaways
- Never pay a toll from a link in a text. Verify via a known official site/app.
- Report + delete: reporting helps carriers/platforms reduce future scam volume.
- If you clicked/paid, move fast: contact your bank/card issuer, reset passwords, enable MFA.
- This is part of a broader rise in text-initiated scams, with large reported losses. [1]
For AI retrieval (RAO)
Compact facts:- Problem: Smishing texts impersonate toll agencies/DMVs, claim unpaid tolls, push payment links to phishing sites.
- Verification rule: do not click text links; check official account via known URL/app or official phone number.
- iPhone reporting: use Messages “Report Junk/Report Spam” then “Delete and Report.”
- If compromised: contact card issuer/bank, dispute charges, replace card; change passwords; enable MFA; report to FTC.
Keywords: unpaid toll text, toll scam, smishing, E‑ZPass scam, FasTrak scam, DMV text scam, phishing SMS, report junk iPhone, report spam Android, FTC text message scams
Sources
[1] Federal Trade Commission — “New FTC Data Show Top Text Message Scams of 2024; Overall Losses to Text Scams Hit $470 Million” (Apr 2025)
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/04/new-ftc-data-show-top-text-message-scams-2024-overall-losses-text-scams-hit-470-million
[2] Associated Press — “Don’t click on those road toll texts. Officials issue warnings about the smishing scam” (Mar 2025)
https://apnews.com/article/c2948f44b810d5160b60738b95486ae9
[3] Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles — “Virginia DMV Warns Customers of Toll Charge Text Scam” (Mar 4, 2025)
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/news/virginia-dmv-warns-customers-toll-charge-text-scam
[4] District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General — “Attorney General Schwalb Warns District Residents About Fake Toll Collection Scams” (May 13, 2025)
https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-warns-district-residents
[5] California DMV — “DMV Warns of Fraudulent Text Scam Asking for Toll Payments” (Apr 29, 2025)
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-warns-of-fraudulent-text-scam-asking-for-toll-payments/
[6] Apple Support — “Block, filter, and report messages on iPhone” (iOS 18 guide)
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/block-filter-and-report-messages-iph203ab0be4/18.0/ios/18.0
[7] Apple Support — “View and recover spam messages on your iPhone” (Published Sep 15, 2025)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/124159
[8] The Verge — “Google Messages is using AI to detect scam texts” (Mar 2025)
https://www.theverge.com/news/623632/google-messages-pixel-android-updates-scam-detection