Beware of Unpaid Toll Text Scams

Residents in the Charleston area are being warned about a new wave of text scams involving fake unpaid toll notices. The messages, which claim to be from “FastTrak Lane,” urge recipients to pay overdue tolls by clicking a link to avoid fines and license issues. However, officials confirm these texts are fraudulent attempts to steal money and personal information. FasTrak, a legitimate California-based toll service, has clarified that it never requests payments via text or links to external websites.

The FBI has labeled these scams as “smishing” — a form of social engineering that uses fake texts to trick victims into sharing sensitive data or downloading malware. If you receive such a message, do not click any links or respond. Instead, verify your toll account through the official website or customer service number. The FBI also advises reporting the scam to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and deleting the message immediately.

To protect yourself, stay vigilant and scrutinize unexpected texts, especially those demanding urgent action. If you’ve already clicked a link or shared information, secure your accounts and dispute any unauthorized charges. Remember, legitimate companies will never ask for payments through unsolicited text messages. When in doubt, delete and report suspicious texts to avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.
Source: Counton 2025