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Scam teardown
The fake "unpaid toll" text
By Lajhem Cambridge, Founder of Lorna · Published Oct 5, 2026
Has a text like this arrived on your phone?
Text message
+1 (305) 555-0183
Final notice: You have an unpaid toll balance of $4.752. Pay before tonight at 8 PM to avoid a $50 late fee3: toll-service-pay.com1
It looks like a small bill. It's a trap for your card number.
- 1
The link isn't your toll agency's website. It's built to look close enough. The real site is the one you'd type in yourself, like FasTrak or E-ZPass.
- 2
The small amount is on purpose. $4.75 feels too small to question. You pay to make it go away, and they get your card number.
- 3
Tonight, or $50 more. A deadline and a fee push you to pay before you stop and check.
Your calm next step
Don't tap the link. Just delete the text. Worried you owe a toll? Type your toll agency's website into your browser yourself and check your account there.
Not sure?
Text Lorna a screenshot before you tap anything. Lorna will help you check if it's real.
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