Fake E-ZPass toll texts are going around. Here is how to spot them

A text arrives saying you owe an unpaid toll and need to pay right now through a link. It looks like it came from E-ZPass. It did not. Scammers are copying the E-ZPass branding so the message looks like it came from a real toll agency.

The goal is simple. If you tap the link and pay, criminals could get your card details. The urgency is part of the trick. A message that pushes you to act fast wants you to skip the step where you stop and check.

Who it affects

Anyone with a phone number can get one of these texts, on iPhone or Android. Drivers who use toll roads are the most likely to believe it. The scam works because it is just a text message. It does not rely on a flaw in your phone, so a newer or more expensive device does not protect you.

If you never drive on toll roads, you can relax a little, but the safest move is still to ignore the message.

What is still unknown

The reporting does not say who is behind the texts, how many people have received them, or how the senders got phone numbers. It also does not say whether the messages look the same everywhere.

The steps in the alert box above cover what to do now, including what to do if you already entered card details. Any real balance can be checked by going to the official E-ZPass site or app yourself, never through a link in a text.