The text said you owed a small unpaid toll, with a late fee coming. You tapped the link, and maybe entered your card. You’re not alone: the FBI’s IC3 warned in 2024 about smishing texts pretending to be toll collection services (IC3), and the FTC has warned that a text about unpaid tolls is probably a scam (FTC). The FTC’s 2024 data release on text scams is here.
For how to spot these texts in the first place, see our unpaid toll text scam guide. This page is the recovery checklist.
If you entered card details
- Call your bank or card issuer on the number on the back of your card. Ask them to cancel the card and dispute the charge.
- Check recent transactions for small test charges as well as big ones.
- Expect follow-up calls “from your bank”. Hang up and call the number on your card instead.
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If you entered a driver’s licence number, address or date of birth
- US: follow the steps for your situation at IdentityTheft.gov, and consider a credit freeze.
- Australia: contact IDCARE and your state licensing authority about replacing your licence.
- UK, Canada, NZ: tell your bank and watch your credit file for new accounts.
If you entered a password
Change it on the real site, and anywhere else you’ve used it. Turn on multi-factor authentication.
If you just clicked
Close the tab, don’t go back, update your phone, and delete the text after reporting it.
Report it
- US: forward to 7726 (SPAM), report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (FTC) and to IC3 with the number and website (IC3).
- UK and NZ: forward to 7726. Australia: Scamwatch. Canada: CAFC.
Questions
I only clicked, I didn’t type anything. Should I worry?
The bigger risk is the details you type in. Close the page, don’t return to it, keep your phone updated, and stay alert for follow-up texts.
Will the toll company refund me?
The money went to scammers, not the toll operator, so your bank or card provider is the place to dispute the charge.
Why are these texts everywhere?
The FBI’s IC3 issued a public service announcement about toll scam texts in 2024, and the FTC has warned about them repeatedly.
Check the number, then lock things down
Paste the sender’s number into the free phone scam check. ImposterWatch Personal (US$9/month, cancel anytime) adds AI-powered checks, breach alerts for up to three email addresses and account recovery help.
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General information only, not legal or financial advice. ImposterWatch is operated by Cloud Investments FZE (UAE) and is not a background check or private investigator service.