‘Outstanding toll’ text? Nessel warns about toll payment texting scam
- The Michigan Department of Transportation has issued warnings about fraudulent texts asking for toll payments
- The scam asks recipients to settle an outstanding toll account balance on a fake MDOT or E-ZPass website
- Avoid clicking on the links or giving any personal information to prevent credit card theft
Michigan drivers receiving texts claiming they owe an unpaid toll could end up paying a lot more than that — they could have their personal and financial information stolen.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned in a press release Friday that the unpaid toll texts are a scam, and residents should not respond to the texts. They’re the latest widespread scheme designed to gather financial information from unsuspecting consumers.
Nessel’s alert said the fake toll texts are most prevalent in west Michigan, but residents across the state have received similar texts in recent weeks.
Here’s what you need to know:
What does the message look like?
Messages can vary, but will typically claim to be from the Michigan Department of Transportation or a toll company such as E-Z Pass with headings such as “E-ZPass Alert,” “Michigan Department of Transportation Final Reminder,” or “Important Toll Violation Notice.” The messages include a deadline to pay and may threaten legal action if immediate payment is not made. Scammers encourage you to click on or copy and paste a link to a fake official website to make the payment.
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Do toll roads send alerts over text?
Ignore texts asking you to pay for a Michigan toll road — they don’t exist in the state. A few state-owned bridges, such as the Blue Water Bridge and the Mackinac Bridge, are tolled, MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich said in a statement, but legitimate bills are sent by mail, not text message.
“Some bridge locations collect tolls but not using license plate readers,” Wieferich said. “You will never receive a bill from MDOT via text message.”
For other states such as Illinois, I-PASS account holders may receive opt-in text message alerts, but they will never request personal or credit card info and will require you to separately log in to your I-PASS account on the official website.
How can I spot a toll scam text message?
Watch out for scam indicators such as grammatical errors, domain names that don’t match the official website URL, and urgent requests for personal information. Instead, Google the toll service manually to get to the legitimate website.
When in doubt, do not click on or paste the link into your browser.
How widespread is the scam?
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) first started reporting complaints in three states in April 2024. The scam quickly spread across the country, with 60,000 complaints to the IC3 in 2024. Texts will impersonate regional toll agencies close to the recipient, such as California’s FasTrak for drivers on the West Coast.
Where are the texts coming from?
Texts are from many different area codes, including other countries such as the Philippines. Because the fake texts and websites often come from overseas servers, it’s hard to track down or catch the scammers. CNBC reported that investigating these cases is particularly difficult because of the international cooperation needed to catch the criminals.
What should I do if I get a text?
Do not click on the link. Report the message by forwarding to SPAM (7726) or visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s website. Use your phone’s built in spam blocking tools and delete any fraudulent texts received.
If you think it’s possible you actually owe a toll, individuals can check their account balance by logging into a toll agency’s official website. Wieferich encouraged anyone who is concerned to reach out to MDOT at 517-241-2400 or [email protected].
I gave a toll scammer my personal information. What should I do?
If you clicked the link and attempted to pay, your credit card or other personal information could be stolen. Make all efforts to secure your information, such as freezing your credit, changing your passwords to government services and disputing all fraudulent charges to your bank account.
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