Drivers hit with FasTrak toll scam texts—Here’s what to watch out for

Drivers across the country are being sent a scam text message asking them to pay an unpaid toll fee for FasTrak.

Why It Matters

Millions of Americans are at risk of being scammed due to fraudulent text messages. Those who fall for the scams can end up sharing their personal information like their Social Security number and bank account if they engage with the fraudsters.

Another text message scam that makes it look like it comes from EZDriveMA, Massachusetts’ electronic toll collection system, has also recently been circulating.

What To Know

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates billions of dollars are lost to scammers each year, with some of that coming from text-based scams like FasTrak, asking for drivers to pay fake unpaid tolls.

In 2022 alone, $8.8 billion was stolen, according to the FTC.

The newest text-based scam targeting drivers is a FasTrak or “FastTrack” toll scam.

While FasTrak is California’s statewide driver toll system, the texts are coming from fraudsters, demanding users pay their unpaid tolls in order “to avoid a fine and keep your license.” However, when people click on the link to submit a payment, they can lose their personal details including their bank account information or even their identity.

What Do FasTrak Scam Texts Look like?

FasTrak texts have been reported to create a false sense of urgency, asking drivers to pay their tolls by a specific date or risk further fines or even the loss of their driver licenses.

In one FasTrak scam text shared with Newsweek, the message read: “Please pay your FastTrack lane tolls by February 4, 2025. To avoid a fine and keep your license, you can pay at,” before revealing a link to make the alleged payment.

One clear sign that the text is from a scammer is the misspelling of FasTrak as FastTrack, but fraudsters can also use the correct spelling to give victims a false sense of security.

What to Do if You Receive a Scam Text

If you do end up as the recipient of one of these FasTrak scam texts, experts say to immediately report the message as junk and block the number.

However, you can also report the message to the FTC or notify your phone carrier for extra protection.

What People Are Saying

Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and CEO and founder of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: “I first noticed it when I started receiving these texts despite my TollTag account being on auto-pay and fully up to date. That raised a red flag. I went directly to the official website to verify my account status and confirmed no fraudulent activity had occurred.”

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “One of the key problems with the FasTrak scam for those being targeted is how authentic the wording sounds on texts used. Many texts provide the date of the alleged unpaid toll and claim if the receiver needs to pay immediately to avoid any excessive fees. FasTrack has an official website that individuals can log into and see if they owe any unpaid amounts. You should always do this if you have questions on an outstanding balance. And if you receive a text with a link, do not click it. Going through the official channel for payments is the only way you should connect with FasTrak.”

Efrat Tabibi, head of data science and analytics at Guardio, told Newsweek: “Toll fees are increasing to pay for road repairs and improvements. Unfortunately, this has also led to more toll fee scams, as scammers take advantage of the high number of real toll transactions and create fake messages to trick people.”

Jen Martin, head of fraud and claims at Citizens, told Newsweek: “Scammers collect victims’ identity information to commit identity theft, such as opening bank accounts, credit cards, and loans. A stolen identity can take years to resolve, so it is crucial to protect your information from potential scams. Additionally, the payment information collected will be used to make fraudulent purchases.”

What Happens Next

If you do receive an unexpected toll bill via text or email, you should always make sure to avoid clicking on any links and instead visit the official toll service website to check for any unpaid bills.

“Be cautious of messages that create a sense of urgency or fear, such as threats of account suspension or legal action. These are common tactics use to get people to act fast without thinking about it,” Tabibi added.