Unpaid Toll Text Scam: How to Tell If It’s Fake
Texts claiming you owe an unpaid road toll and must pay now to avoid fines are a common scam. Here’s how to check and stay safe.
What the message looks like
Scam messages change all the time, but they often look something like this example (the names and links are made up):
How the scam works
A text says you have an unpaid toll and threatens late fees, fines or even losing your driving licence if you don’t pay right away. The amount is small, so many people pay without thinking. The link goes to a fake payment page that collects card details.
The messages are sent to huge numbers of people at random, so you may receive one even if you don’t drive or have never used a toll road.
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Warning signs
- Threats of large fines or licence suspension for a tiny amount.
- A link that isn’t your local toll operator’s official website.
- No details you would expect, like the date, road or vehicle plate.
- Sent from an unknown number or an email-style address.
What to do
- Don’t click the link.
- Log in to your toll account using the official website or app you already use, or search for your road operator’s official site yourself.
- If there’s nothing owed there, the text is fake. Report it as spam and delete it.
If you already paid
Contact your bank straight away using the number on your card and ask them to block it. Change any passwords you typed into the fake site.
Not sure if a message is real?
Paste or screenshot it into our free scam checker. You’ll see the warning signs and what to do.
Check it for free