The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued an alert regarding scams that involve fake toll payment requests being sent via text messages nationwide, including in Texas.

These fraudulent messages appear to come from toll agencies and claim that the recipient has unpaid tolls, providing deceptive payment links designed to steal personal and financial information.

According to the FBI’s news release, “The texts indicate that the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and use nearly identical wording, mentioning the ‘outstanding toll amount.’”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that these scammers aim not only to extract money but also to obtain personal information, including driver’s license numbers, which can lead to identity theft.

The scam messages state that immediate payment is necessary to avoid fines for outstanding tolls, often stressing the alleged amount due. Clicking on any links in these texts takes the recipient to a fraudulent website, a typical phishing scam.

Last year, the FBI began sharing warnings about this scam, reporting they received over 2,000 complaints at that time.

What Should You Do?

To protect against text scams like this, the FTC advises the following steps:

  • Confirm the authenticity of the text. Reach out to the North Texas Tollway Authority at 972-818-6882 or 817-731-6882, or visit their website at ntta.org/contact-us.
  • Do not click on links or reply to unanticipated texts.
  • Report and delete unwanted text messages. Utilize your phone’s “report junk” function to mark unwanted texts in your messaging application, or forward them to 7726 (SPAM). After verification and reporting, delete the suspicious message from your device.

How to Report It?

If you receive one of these scam texts, the FBI recommends the following actions:

  • Submit a complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, including the phone number and website referenced in the text.
  • Verify your account through the legitimate toll service’s website, delete any phishing texts, and secure your personal and financial information if you have engaged with the link.
  • You can also reach out to the FBI’s fraud hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).