Get a text about unpaid California tolls? Here’s what DMV says you should do
Have you recently received a text message demanding that you pay toll fees?
The California Department of Motor Vehicles is warning residents to leave those messages unread to avoid becoming victims of a widespread scam.
These fraudulent texts generally try to impersonate the toll service in each state. For example, if you live in California, the text will likely mention the DMV or FastTrak, California’s electronic toll collection.
“The current scam makes the text look like a DMV notice that claims that the recipient has unpaid toll fees and threatens charges or penalties if they are not paid immediately through a provided (URL) link,” the DMV said in an April 29 news release. “The included link leads to fake payment pages designed to steal customers’ financial information.”
In 2024, the FBI said it had received more than 2,000 complaints reporting fake texts representing toll road collection services in at least three states.
A similar text-based scam resurfaced in early 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
“Scammers are pretending to be tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money,” the commission said in a January news release.
Here’s what to know about the scam:
What do fake unpaid toll texts look like?
According to the DMV, the scam text messages can be more or less specific.
An example provided by the state road agency included the header “Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Notice.”
“Your toll payment for Express Lane must be settled by Apr 23, 2025,” the fraudulent text read. “To avoid fines and suspension of your driving privileges, kindly pay by the due date.”
The fake text then asked the recipient to “pay here” using a direct link, or copy and paste a link into an internet browser before clicking on it.
“The DMV will never send a text message to ask for personal or financial information,” including payment, the state road agency said. “If you receive one, do not open or reply to it.”
How to protect yourself from text message scams
The best way for California residents to protect themselves from deceptive scams is to contact a local field office directly with driving-related questions, according to DMV Director Steve Gordon.
“Always use the DMV website or call our contact center to interact with us,” Gordon said in the release. “Remember that legitimate government agencies will rarely contact you by text for sensitive matters.”
The DMV and Federal Trade Commission recommend taking these steps to reduce the chances of falling victim to a text message scam:
- Never respond to unsolicited or suspicious texts. If you receive a message asking for personal or financial information, do not reply.
- Don’t click on any links in unexpected texts.
- Verify the source. If you are unsure, reach out to the DMV or tolling agency through official channels.
- Report and delete unwanted text messages.
Call the DMV toll-free at 800-777-0133 if you have concerns.
How to report a scam
The latest toll-related scam is an example of “smishing,” a “social engineering attack” that uses “fake text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information or sending money to cybercriminals,” according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
If you receive a fraudulent text, the FBI recommends that you:
- File a complaint online with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Be sure to include:
- The phone number from where the text originated.
- The website listed within the text
- Check your account using the toll service’s legitimate website.
- Contact the toll service’s customer service phone number.
- Delete any smishing texts you received.
- If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
You can also use your phone’s “report junk” option to report unwanted texts to your messaging app or forward them to 7726 (SPAM),” the Federal Trade Commission said.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Get a text about unpaid California tolls? Here’s what DMV says you should do."
