EZPass Toll Scam Text: How to Spot & Report Fake Toll Texts

The toll road text scam — impersonating EZPass, SunPass, and state toll authorities — is one of the fastest-growing SMS scam categories in the U.S., and it received a formal FBI warning in March 2024. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported receiving more than 2,000 complaints about toll-related smishing campaigns in just a few weeks, spanning at least three states — with victims losing money and personal data to fraudulent payment pages impersonating toll authority websites.

If you received a text about an unpaid toll, this page covers every variant, how to verify whether it’s real, and exactly what to do.

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What Toll Scam Texts Look Like

The EZPass Variant

“E-ZPass: You have an outstanding toll balance of $3.89. Pay now to avoid a $35.00 administrative fee: [link]”

“EZPass: Final notice — unpaid toll balance. Your driving privileges may be affected. Resolve now: [link]”

The SunPass Variant (Florida)

“SunPass: Your account shows an unpaid toll of $2.47. Pay within 24 hours to avoid penalties: [link]”

The Generic State Toll Authority Variant

“[State] Toll Services: Your vehicle has an outstanding toll balance. Pay immediately at: [link]”

“Unpaid toll notice: A $6.25 balance is associated with your license plate. Pay to avoid registration hold: [link]”

The ParkMobile Variant

“ParkMobile: An unpaid parking session is associated with your account. Resolve here: [link]”

ParkMobile impersonation (800 monthly searches) follows an identical pattern but targets parking rather than highway tolls.

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Why This Scam Is So Effective

Small amounts reduce skepticism. A $3.89 or $6.25 unpaid toll is entirely plausible — many drivers genuinely aren’t sure whether they owe small amounts, especially on roads they don’t use regularly.

The threat is real. Unpaid tolls do accrue late fees, and states do place registration holds for unpaid toll violations. Scammers exploit a real consequence.

Broad geographic reach. The scam impersonates toll authorities across multiple states simultaneously, often with state-specific branding, so even people who don’t use the specific authority mentioned may be uncertain.

National coverage creates uncertainty. Most Americans drive on toll roads at some point. Even infrequent toll road users may be uncertain about whether a small unpaid balance could exist.

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How to Tell If a Toll Text Is Real or Fake

Real toll authority websites use official government domains.

EZPass systems vary by state but all use official government or designated authority domains. The legitimate E-ZPass site is e-zpassiag.com or your state’s specific toll authority site. SunPass uses sunpass.com. Any link to an unofficial domain is fraudulent.

Real toll authorities send bills by mail — not just text.

Legitimate toll violations are documented through official billing processes that include mailed notices. A text-only “final notice” with no corresponding mail is a red flag.

Check your real account.

If you use a toll program, go directly to the official app or website (type the address) and check your account balance. If you have no outstanding balance, the text is a scam.

The FBI warning.

The FBI explicitly warned in 2024 that toll collection smishing was being used in a coordinated national campaign. The FBI advised: do not click the links, verify balances through official toll authority websites, and file complaints with the IC3.

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What to Do and How to Report

Do not click the link. Do not pay through any text link.

Check your toll account directly through the official app or website.

If you don’t use the toll authority mentioned: the text is definitively a scam targeting your geographic area.

Report:

Forward to 7726 (SPAM).

File with the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov (the FBI specifically requested complaints about toll scam texts).

Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Report to your state toll authority — most have fraud reporting contact information on their official websites.

If you paid through the link: Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to dispute the charge and request new card numbers. The fake payment site likely also captured your personal information — monitor credit reports and consider a fraud alert.

→ Back to Pillar: https://www.scammed.org/text-scams/