A text claiming you owe a small toll, with a link to pay 'before a late fee or license suspension', is the 2025–26 smishing wave — not your toll agency. Paste it for an instant read.
Real toll agencies (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak and the rest) bill the registered account or vehicle owner by mail or your own account — they don't cold-text strangers a payment link over a few dollars, and they don't threaten license suspension by SMS. Scammers blast these by the millions because the amount ($6.99, $12.51) is small enough that people pay without thinking, and the link harvests your card number and personal details.
Don't tap the link. Look at the URL — these use lookalike domains (ezpass-toll-pay.com, fake '.gov' copycats) that aren't your real agency's site. If you're unsure whether you actually owe a toll, open your toll account yourself from a website or number you look up independently. Then delete the text, forward it to 7726 (SPAM), and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Almost always. Real toll agencies bill by mail or your registered account and don't text strangers a payment link or threaten license suspension over a few dollars. The link steals your card and data — don't tap it. Check your toll account directly instead.
Don't enter any details. If you already typed in card or login info, contact your bank to freeze or replace the card, change any reused passwords, and watch for fraudulent charges. The text alone can't hurt you unless you act on it.
This guidance is compiled from official U.S. government sources. For your specific situation, verify directly:
Last reviewed 2026-06-24. How we check & who's behind this →