Scam guides › Unpaid toll text (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak)

Is the E-ZPass unpaid toll text a scam?

Updated October 16, 2026. By the AskBeforeYouSend editorial team (how we fact-check). Fact-checked against the official sources listed at the bottom.

Short answer: Almost always, yes. The FTC says a surprise text about unpaid tolls is probably a scam. Scammers pose as toll agencies across the country, add a small amount and a "late fee", and link to a fake payment page that steals your card number and personal information.

What it looks like

E-ZPass: We've noticed an outstanding toll amount of $12.51 on your record. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, visit https://myturnpiketollservices.com to settle your balance.

This wording is close to the real text the FBI's IC3 published in its April 2024 warning.

How the scam works

You get a text out of the blue saying you owe a small toll, often under $15.
It threatens a bigger late fee if you don't pay right away.
The link goes to a lookalike page that asks for your card, and sometimes your driver's license number.

Red flags

A text you didn't expect about a toll, even if you never drove on that road
A small amount plus a scary late fee
A link that isn't the toll agency's website you already use
Pressure to pay today

What to do now

Don't tap the link and don't reply.
If you're worried it's real, log in to the toll account you already have, or call the agency's number from your own bill or its official website.
Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), use "Report junk" in your messages app, then delete it.
If you entered card details, call the number on the back of your card right away.

Never send money, gift cards, crypto or verification codes because of a call, text or message. Hang up and call the real number.

Check a message like this

Report it

Forward the text to 7726: Forward the scam text to 7726 (it spells SPAM). Then use "Report junk" in your messages app and delete it.

Report to the FBI (IC3): Best if money was lost or it happened online. Have the scammer's name, phone, email, website and the full message ready.

Report to the FTC: For any scam, even if you didn't lose money. Takes about 10 minutes.

Questions

I really did drive through a toll. Could it be real?

Possibly, but don't use the text to find out. Log in to your toll account or call the number on your toll bill or the agency's official website. The FTC says to use contact information you know is real, not what's in the text.

I clicked the link but didn't pay. What now?

Close the page. Don't enter anything. If you typed in a card number, call your card company using the number on the back of the card. Watch your statements, and report the text to 7726.

Sources

Example messages are made up to show the pattern unless we say otherwise. Phone numbers in examples use the fictional 555 range.

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