The Unpaid Toll Scam
In the past year, I have come across a large digital scam that has taken advantage of many individuals. The unpaid toll hoax was a text message claiming that I had missed paying a toll and now owed a late fee, or there would be consequences. There was a short description of the violation and a link to pay immediately to avoid the consequences. For a moment, the text message seemed real and professional. It made me panic and think back to whether I had actually missed a toll, as I had taken a trip through California just recently. However, I knew that I had been careful on my trip and had not gone through any of the tolls.
The purpose of this scam was financial theft and stealing payment information. Once someone clicks on the link provided and enters their private card information, scammers can use that to charge you or use your data in the future.
How the Scam looked
Although the message looked official, there were a few details that made me realize that this was a scam.
- The link was not through an official government or toll agency.
- There was no description of the time, date, or location of the toll.
- Toll agencies usually reach out to individuals with overdue tolls through physical mail.
- Some of the messages would be from unofficial Gmail accounts.
(Example of a suspicious email account)
If I had fallen for the link trap, I would’ve been asked to insert my card details and personal information. Even if I had provided little information, the scammers would have had enough to steal my information and use it for their own gain.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed
The following is a list that you should go through to check for scams.
Check the message sender
- Real toll agencies would not have a random email account or an unrecognizable phone number.
Inspect the link
- The government toll website will usually have a link that ends in .gov. The ones in scam messages are random.
Are there missing details?
- Toll invoices will include the exact information that you need, such as the date, time, and location.
Official toll website
- If you believe that you might actually have an overdue toll, visit the official toll website and search there.
Contact DMV
- The DMV usually gets notified if you have multiple unpaid tolls and violations. If you had an outstanding balance that had escalated to a violation, you can reach out to your DMV for additional information.
Be knowledgable
- You should always question links that ask you to input your personal information, especially when they come from suspicious text messages.
- Any message that is threatening or urgent is always a sign of a scam.
- Know that toll agencies will send you a violation invoice through the mail if you actually have an overdue toll.
Stay Safe with Digital Hoaxes
The unpaid toll scam is just one of the many digital hoaxes out there. As scammers find new approaches to accessing your personal information, make sure to verify details before taking any actions.
Have you ever received a scam like this, or do you know of any other digital hoaxes? Share your experiences or thoughts in the comments so we can all be aware and stay safe.
8 Comments
Vallabhi Shah
This was actually so informative and very interesting. Thank you!
kpatel
Thank you so much! I’m glad you found the blog helpful. These types of digital scams are getting more common so it’s super important to be aware. If you come across any similar digital scams please make sure to be careful.
Brenna
Omg thank you! I didn’t know about the .gov part of the website
kpatel
Your welcome! I’m so glad you found this blog helpful. The links provided in the messages is one of the most obvious ways to determine the scam, but a lot of people don’t realize it. If you come across a message of similar type, please make sure to check the link domain. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Pallavi Patel
I’ve also been getting multiple messages for unpaid tolls. Mine said that I’ve owed a toll for a state that I’ve never even been to. I decided not to click on the link as it was clearly someone trying to steal my information. However, I know some people may not be aware of these types of scams and fall for the trap. Your post definitely explains the scam well and helps spread awareness about it.
kpatel
Hey Pallavi, I’m glad you caught onto the scam before you decided to click on the link. It’s super important to be aware of these scammer, but many people don’t catch on so fast. Thank you for sharing your experience, it really helps spread the word and makes others aware of the different ways the scam may present itself.
Sam
I’ve never gotten the unpaid tolls message, however, I know of many people that have. They’ve also shared the links being unofficial and the messages being from weird emails or phone numbers. For me personally I’ve gotten the fake package delivery text that’s asked me to pay a relsease fee on a package that I had supposedly ordered. It looked similar to the message you’ve provided. It’s ridiculous how these scams have become so common.
kpatel
The package delivery messages are also a very common digital hoax. There are many different versions of this hoax that asks the individual to put in their personal information and pay for a fee that they never really have. These messages make it seem urgent and important, however, it’s important to double check everything like where the message is coming from and the link domain. I’m glad you were aware of the scam and caught onto it. Thank you for sharing a different experience that you had with digital hoaxes to help spread awareness.