What’s Happening

Scammers posing as E-ZPass officials, Tolls by Mail, or fictitious names like “NY Toll Services” are sending phishing text messages claiming payment is due for outstanding tolls. The scam intensified after the January 2025 launch of Congestion Relief in NYC, which gave scammers new pretexts to claim unpaid charges.

The FCC has received consumer complaints about imposters sending fraudulent toll texts nationwide — impersonating E-ZPass (in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic), FasTrak (California), I-PASS (Illinois), and other tolling authorities. The pattern is the same: claim an unpaid toll, threaten suspension, demand immediate payment through a link.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received tens of thousands of related reports. NY is one of multiple states with formal public warnings; Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, California, and others have issued similar advisories.

Real E-ZPass / Tolls by Mail Texts vs. Fake Texts

The NYS Thruway Authority has published the distinguishing characteristics:

Real E-ZPass / Tolls by Mail Text	Fake Scam Text
Comes from short code 39769	Comes from an international number, random phone number, or strange email-to-text address
Begins with “EZPNY”	Uses fictitious names like “NY Toll Services” or misuses real names
Contains links only to e-zpassny.com or tollsbymailny.com	Contains links to unofficial websites (often with “almost-right” URLs)
Only sent if you opted in to mobile alerts	Arrives unexpectedly without opt-in
Never requests credit card, birthdate, SSN, or other sensitive personal information	Asks you to reply “Y” to receive a link, then collects credit card or personal information on a fake site
Does not threaten immediate consequences	Threatens immediate late fees, account suspension, collections, or legal trouble

Examples of Scam-Style Wording

The examples below are sample scam-style wording. They are not real toll notices and should not be acted on. They are provided only to help drivers recognize suspicious patterns.

“NY Toll Services: Your vehicle has an unpaid toll invoice. To avoid additional late fees, pay your balance immediately at [suspicious link].”

“E-ZPass Notice: You have an outstanding toll balance of $6.99. Failure to pay today may result in penalties. Reply Y to view payment link.”

“Tolls By Mail NY: Final reminder. Your toll charge remains unpaid. Pay now to avoid collection fees: [suspicious link].”

“NY Congestion Toll: Your vehicle has an unpaid congestion zone charge. Pay before midnight to prevent late fees.”

“E-ZPass Account Alert: Your account may be suspended due to unpaid tolls. Confirm payment information here: [suspicious link].”

“MTA Bridges and Tunnels: Your license plate has been recorded with an unpaid toll. Pay within 24 hours to avoid registration hold.”

Small dollar amounts ($6.99, $4.50, $12.30) are common because they make people pay quickly without thinking. Scam wording evolves constantly — a message can be fake even if it doesn’t match these examples exactly.

Red Flags That the Text May Be Fake

A toll text may be fake if it does any of the following:

Arrives unexpectedly when you haven’t opted in to mobile alerts from E-ZPass NY or Tolls by Mail.

Asks you to reply “Y” to receive a link — a signature pattern of the current scam wave.

Comes from an international number, an unusual phone number, or an email-to-text address (e.g., addresses with letters and @ symbols).

Tells you to click a payment link. Real E-ZPass NY does not ask customers to click a link to pay tolls.

Threatens immediate consequences — late fees, account suspension, collections, registration hold, or legal trouble within hours.

Uses an unofficial website. Legitimate links end with e-zpassny.com or tollsbymailny.com. Scam sites use lookalike domains (extra words, slight misspellings, .com replaced with .net or other suffixes).

Asks for credit card information, Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, or other sensitive personal data. Per E-ZPass NY’s official statement: real toll communications never request this information by text or email.

Contains spelling, grammar, or formatting errors. Awkward capitalization, odd spacing, unusual punctuation, or strange wording often indicate a scam.

Pressures you to act immediately. Real toll matters move on slower formal timelines and include multiple notices.

Uses fictitious names like “NY Toll Services” or any name that isn’t specifically E-ZPass NY, Tolls by Mail NY, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, or the NYS Thruway Authority.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Toll Text

Do not click the link. Even hovering or previewing can sometimes trigger malware downloads.

Do not reply to the text. Replying confirms your number is active and invites more scams. Do not reply “STOP,” “NO,” or anything else.

Do not enter credit card, banking, or personal information.

Take a screenshot if you want a record before deleting.

Report the message using your phone’s built-in “report junk” or “report spam” feature.

Forward the text to 7726 (which spells SPAM on a phone keypad). This is the wireless industry’s standard short code for reporting spam texts — your carrier uses these reports to identify and block scam senders.

Block the sender through your phone’s blocking feature.

Delete the message after reporting it.

Verify any actual toll balance only through official websites or phone numbers — never the link or number in the suspicious text.

How to Verify a Real Toll Balance

If you think you may actually owe a toll, do not use the link or phone number in the text message. Go directly to the official source by typing the address yourself into your browser or by using a trusted bookmark:

E-ZPass NY website:	e-zpassny.com
E-ZPass NY phone:	1-800-333-8655
Tolls by Mail NY website:	tollsbymailny.com
Tolls by Mail NY phone:	1-844-826-8400
NY State Consumer Protection Helpline:	1-800-697-1220 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–4:30pm, excluding state holidays)
FTC fraud reporting:	reportfraud.ftc.gov

If You Already Clicked the Link or Paid

If you clicked the link but did not enter information

• Close the page immediately
• Do not download anything if prompted
• Consider running a security scan on the device
• Watch for additional suspicious texts, emails, or calls in the days following
• Change passwords if the page asked for any login credentials before you closed it

If you entered credit card or bank information

• Contact your bank or credit card company immediately and report the transaction as fraudulent
• Ask whether the card should be locked, canceled, or replaced
• Review recent transactions for unauthorized charges
• Dispute unauthorized charges through your bank’s fraud process
• Monitor statements for additional suspicious activity over the next 60–90 days

If you entered personal information (SSN, driver’s license, date of birth)

• Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
• Monitor credit reports — free reports available at annualcreditreport.com
• Watch for identity-theft warning signs (unfamiliar accounts, mail you didn’t request, calls about debts that aren’t yours)
• Report the incident to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Keep screenshots, transaction records, and the suspicious link if possible
• Consider contacting the NY State Consumer Protection helpline at 1-800-697-1220

Frequently Asked Questions

I received a text saying I owe NY tolls. Is it real?

Maybe. Treat it as suspicious unless verified through official channels. Real E-ZPass NY texts come from short code 39769, begin with “EZPNY,” and only link to e-zpassny.com or tollsbymailny.com. If yours doesn’t match all three, treat it as suspicious. Do not click the link. Verify by going directly to the official website or calling the official phone number.

Can a fake toll text mention E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail by name?

Yes. Scammers regularly use legitimate-sounding names — including “E-ZPass,” “Tolls by Mail NY,” “MTA Bridges and Tunnels,” and the fictitious name “NY Toll Services” — to make messages look official. The name in the text proves nothing.

What if the text says I only owe a small amount like $6.99?

Small amounts are a common scam tactic precisely because they make people pay quickly without thinking. The FCC and FTC have both warned that fake toll texts often include specific small dollar amounts to encourage rapid payment.

Should I reply “STOP” or “NO” to opt out?

No. Do not engage with suspicious texts at all. Replying — even with “STOP” — confirms your number is active and active numbers get sold to other scammers. Reporting, blocking, and deleting is safer than replying.

Can unpaid tolls actually become a real problem?

Yes. Legitimate unpaid tolls can result in additional fees, registration holds, and enforcement consequences over time. The point is not to ignore real toll obligations. The point is to verify through official channels rather than trusting a text message.

What if I recently drove through a toll? Could the text be real then?

Recent toll use doesn’t validate the text. Scammers send these messages broadly, and many people have recently driven through tolls in NY. Always verify through official channels before paying.

What if the link looks almost official?

Do not rely on “almost.” E-ZPass NY warns that fraudulent links often contain part of a real company’s name while leading to a different malicious website (e.g., “e-zpassny-payments.com” instead of the real “e-zpassny.com”). The only legitimate E-ZPass NY domain is e-zpassny.com, and the only legitimate Tolls by Mail domain is tollsbymailny.com — exactly. Anything else is fake.

What about congestion pricing texts?

Congestion Relief launched in NYC in January 2025 and scammers have heavily exploited it as a pretext. Texts claiming “unpaid congestion zone charges” or “NY Congestion Toll” balances follow the same pattern as other toll scams. Verify through E-ZPass NY or Tolls by Mail NY directly — never through the text.

Can a lawyer help me with a toll-related scam?

Yes, in certain situations. If you already paid a fake toll text and there’s now a question about whether a real toll obligation also exists, a traffic/DMV attorney can help review the situation. If you’re receiving collection notices or registration holds related to tolls and aren’t sure what’s real, a lawyer can help sort that out. The firm offers a no-charge initial review of suspicious toll communications.

How the Firm Helps

If you received a suspicious toll text, an unexpected toll-collection notice, or a registration hold related to alleged unpaid tolls, the firm can review the communication and help determine whether it relates to a legitimate toll matter or a scam. There is no charge for the initial review of a potentially fraudulent communication.

If the matter turns out to be a real toll obligation that needs to be addressed, the firm represents drivers across all 62 NY counties on MTA toll penalties, E-ZPass disputes, registration holds, and related DMV matters. If it turns out to be a scam, you’ve avoided paying a scammer.

Send a screenshot to Docs@RonCookLawFirm.com or text the photo to (631) 678-8993.

Related pages: MTA toll penalties · Tolls and E-ZPass debt defense · Fake DMV notice scam warning · Identity theft assistance

Contact Us

Call toll-free: (888) 275-2620. Available 24/7.

Text a photo of the suspicious text to: (631) 678-8993

Email: Docs@RonCookLawFirm.com

The firm represents drivers across all 62 NY counties.

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Last reviewed by Attorney Ronald S. Cook — May 2026

This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Toll obligations, collection notices, DMV issues, and identity-theft concerns depend on the specific facts of each matter. If you received a notice, text, bill, collection letter, or legal document, verify it through official sources and seek legal advice if needed. This page does not state that every toll-related message is fake; some toll notices are legitimate. The warning is that unexpected text messages demanding immediate payment through a link should be treated with caution and verified through official channels before any payment or information is provided. Prior results do not guarantee future results.