E-ZPass unpaid toll text scam
Updated October 23, 2026
The text people are getting
E-ZPass final reminder:
You have an outstanding toll. Your toll account balance is outstanding. […]
As reported by Michigan Attorney General, 2025.
How to tell it's a scam
- "Final reminder" for a bill you never got. Real E-ZPass violations and unpaid tolls come with a statement or notice first, usually by mail or email to the address on your account.
- "Outstanding" twice, no details. The text doesn't say which road, which date, or which plate. It just says your balance is outstanding and pushes you to a link.
- A link that isn't your E-ZPass agency's website. E-ZPass is run by different agencies in each state. A text with a strange web address, or one that doesn't say which state's E-ZPass it is, is a red flag.
- Sent to everyone. The Michigan attorney general published this exact text as one of many toll scams hitting residents. Scammers send it to huge lists of numbers, whether or not you have E-ZPass.
What E-ZPass actually does
E-ZPass is a network of toll agencies, and each state runs its own customer service. New Hampshire's attorney general and transportation department said NH E-ZPass and Massachusetts' EZDriveMA never contact customers by text message to request payment. Some agencies, like E-ZPass New York, do send account texts to customers who opted in, and those link to the agency's own site. If you're not sure, sign in to your account on the official website or app instead of using any link in a text.
If you tapped the link or paid
- Only opened the page? Close it and don't enter anything.
- Entered card details? Call your bank or card company using the number on your card. Ask them to block the card and dispute the charge.
- Entered your E-ZPass password? Change it on the real E-ZPass website, and anywhere else you used the same password.
More detail: what to do if you clicked a scam link.
Report it
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it.
- File a complaint with the FBI at ic3.gov, including the number it came from and the website it linked to.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Questions
Does E-ZPass send text messages?
Some E-ZPass agencies send texts, but only to customers who signed up for alerts, and they point to the agency's own website. E-ZPass New York, for example, offers bill and statement texts to customers who opt in. A text you didn't sign up for that asks you to pay through a link is a scam.
How do I check my E-ZPass balance safely?
Type your state's E-ZPass website address into your browser yourself, or use the official app, and sign in. You can also call the customer service number printed on your statement or transponder paperwork.
I don't even have E-ZPass. Why did I get this?
Scammers send the same text to huge lists of phone numbers. Getting one doesn't mean anyone has your toll account or your license plate.