Unpaid toll text (E-ZPass, FasTrak, SunPass, or state DOT)
Phones across the country have been getting texts that claim you owe a toll or ticket and must pay through a link to avoid a fine or license problem. State attorneys general say government agencies do not text people out of the blue to demand that kind of payment.
How it works
The text may use names such as E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, a state department of transportation, or a secretary of state office. It says you have an unpaid toll or ticket and includes a link or QR code to pay. The amount can look small, and the deadline can feel tight, which is the point. The website is built to collect card or bank details. Michigan, Washington, and Illinois all issued alerts about these texts in March 2026. If you truly want to check a toll account, open the official agency site or app yourself.
Red flags
- The text is unsolicited and urges you to pay quickly to avoid a fine or license trouble.
- It comes from a long or unfamiliar number and includes a short or odd link.
- It uses the name of a toll brand or a state agency but is not a notice you expected.
- Government agencies in these alerts say they mail official notices and do not demand payment by gift card, wire, crypto, or a payment app.
What to do
- Do not tap the link, scan a QR code, or reply to the text.
- If you have a real toll account, log in on the official website or app, or call a number from that site. Illinois drivers, for example, can check at IllinoisTollway.com or 1-800-824-7277.
- Forward the text to 7726 and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- If you already paid or entered information, contact your bank and also file a report at ic3.gov.
Where to report it
- reportfraud.ftc.gov — the FTC's report form.
- ic3.gov — the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.