[Scam & Safety] I Got a Text From E-ZPass Saying I Owe Money, Is It a Scam?
I Got a Text From E-ZPass Saying I Owe Money — Is It a Scam?
Your phone buzzes. A text says you owe money for an unpaid toll and you need to pay immediately or face late fees. It looks official. It feels urgent. But before you tap that link — read this. That text is almost certainly a scam.
This Scam Is Everywhere Right Now
The E-ZPass toll scam is one of the fastest growing text scams in America right now. The FBI received more than 60,000 complaints in 2024 alone from people reporting suspicious toll payment text messages — and the numbers have only grown in 2025 and 2026.
Americans received 19.2 billion spam and scam texts in April 2025 alone — that comes out to about 63 spam texts for every single person in the country.
The scariest part? These texts are being sent to people all across the country — even people who don't have an E-ZPass account and have never used a toll road. If you have a phone number — you are a target.
What the Fake Text Looks Like
Here are real examples of fake E-ZPass texts that people are actually receiving right now:
"Your recent trip through the New Jersey toll point has incurred an extra $4.15 charge. To avoid late fees, settle your balance immediately at newjersey-ezpass.com"
"E-ZPass: You have an unpaid toll invoice. Failure to pay may result in excessive late fees on your bill. Pay now: [link]"
"NY Toll Services: Your account shows an outstanding balance. Reply Y to receive the payment link."
"EZPASS: Your vehicle has an unpaid toll balance of $6.89. Pay within 24 hours to avoid a $35 late fee: [link]"
Notice what they all have in common — they create urgency, threaten late fees, and push you to click a link or reply immediately.
The Simple Truth
E-ZPass and most other toll agencies do not send text messages to collect fees from non-account holders. Most toll agencies do not send texts at all.
Here is what every official E-ZPass agency has publicly confirmed:
- E-ZPass Delaware will never contact customers via text or email to pay a violation or add funds to their account
- NJ E-ZPass urges customers to be cautious with text messages from unfamiliar phone numbers demanding payment of outstanding toll balances
- E-ZPass New York, Virginia, Maryland and every other state have issued the same warning — they do not send unsolicited payment texts
If you get a text asking you to pay a toll — it is a scam. Period.
🚨 How to Spot the Fake Every Time
Here are the exact red flags to look for:
Red Flag #1 — You don't even have E-ZPass This is the most obvious giveaway. Scammers send these texts to millions of random phone numbers — including people who have never used E-ZPass or driven through a toll road in their life. If you don't have E-ZPass — delete it immediately.
Red Flag #2 — It comes from an international phone number Real E-ZPass texts in New York come from the number 39769 — not from international numbers. Many scam texts come from numbers starting with +63 which is a Philippines area code or other international codes. If the text comes from a random number or international code — it's fake.
Red Flag #3 — It asks you to reply "Y" Real E-ZPass texts would never ask you to reply "Y" to receive a payment link. This is a scammer trick to confirm your number is active and get you engaged with the scam.
Red Flag #4 — The website link looks almost right but isn't Scammers create fake websites that look almost identical to real ones with just one or two letters different:
- Real New York site: tollsbymailny.com
- Fake scam site: tollbymailsny.com or tollsbymailsinvoices.com
See the difference? Just one extra letter — "mails" instead of "mail." Easy to miss when you're reading quickly.
Red Flag #5 — The amount owed is small and believable Scammers deliberately use small amounts like $4.15, $6.89, or $3.50. A small amount feels too insignificant to question — which is exactly why they use it. Once they have your credit card number they charge much larger amounts.
Red Flag #6 — It threatens urgent consequences "Pay within 24 hours." "Avoid excessive late fees." "Your license may be suspended." Real toll agencies send notices by mail — not urgent threatening text messages.
What a REAL E-ZPass Message Looks Like
For states that do send real text alerts, here's what legitimate communication looks like:
- Comes from 39769 — a short code, not a regular phone number
- Starts with your state's official identifier — example "EZPNY" for New York
- Links only to official .gov websites or the exact official toll agency website
- Never asks for your credit card or Social Security number by text
- Never threatens immediate consequences for not clicking
💡 Golden Tips From Real People
These are tips gathered from people who have dealt with this scam and cybersecurity experts:
"I delete every toll text I get — no exceptions." People who've been through this say the same thing. They never click toll texts anymore — ever. If they're genuinely concerned about a toll balance they go directly to their state's official toll website by typing it themselves.
"I don't even have E-ZPass and I got three of these in one week." This is one of the most common things people report. Scammers don't know who has E-ZPass and who doesn't — they just blast millions of numbers and wait for someone to click. Not having E-ZPass doesn't protect you from receiving these texts.
"The $4 amount almost got me — it felt too small to be a scam." Real people admit the small amount is what almost fooled them. They thought — why would someone scam me for $4? The answer is they don't want $4. They want your credit card number.
"I checked my real E-ZPass account directly — no balance due." The smartest move. If you're ever genuinely worried, log into your real E-ZPass account directly by typing your state's official website yourself. If there's a real balance owed it will show up right there.
Your Real E-ZPass Official Websites by State
If you want to check your real toll balance — always go directly to these official websites:
- New York: ezpassny.com or tollsbymailny.com
- New Jersey: ezpassnj.com
- Pennsylvania: e-zpasspa.com
- Virginia: ezpassva.com
- Maryland: mdta.maryland.gov
- Massachusetts: ezpassma.com
- Illinois: illinoistollway.com
- Ohio: ohioturnpike.org
- Texas: txtag.org
- Florida: sunpass.com
Always type these addresses yourself — never click a link from a text to get there.
What to Do If You Get One of These Texts
Step 1 — Do NOT click the link Not even to see where it goes. Clicking alone can sometimes trigger tracking or download malware.
Step 2 — Do NOT reply Replying confirms your number is active and working — which leads to even more scam texts.
Step 3 — Delete the text
Step 4 — Report it Help protect others by reporting the scam:
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) — works on most US phone carriers
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov — include the phone number the text came from and the website link in the message
What to Do If You Already Clicked
Don't panic — act quickly:
- Close the page immediately without entering any information
- If you entered payment information — call your bank right away and tell them you may have been scammed. Ask them to cancel that card immediately
- If you entered your Social Security number — place a fraud alert with all three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — right away. This is free
- Change passwords on any accounts that use the same email or password you may have entered
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
The Golden Rule
Real toll agencies send bills by mail — not by text message. Any text asking you to pay a toll is a scam. Delete it without clicking anything.
Have you received one of these E-ZPass scam texts? Share your experience in the comments below — what did it say and which state was it from? Your story could help protect someone else!
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