Across Illinois, drivers are receiving text messages claiming to be from the Illinois Tollway accusing them of “toll evasion” or having unpaid tolls.
“These are phishing text scams. Do not respond or provide payment information,” the Illinois Tollway wrote on social media last month.
24/7 Chicago news stream: Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are
These EZ Pass scam messages warn drivers they need to pay either immediately or within a certain time frame before the fees increase and are reported to DMVs.
According to CNBC, the scam is known as “smishing,” a type of scam that blends SMS messaging with phishing. Phishing is a type of cybercrime in which scammers impersonate sources in an attempt to steal sensitive data.
The scam has now been plaguing Illinoisans for over a year. Although officials have recommended ignoring the messages, not everyone does- which makes the whole endeavor worthwhile for hackers, and which is why the toll texts keep coming, according to CNBC.
Illinois tollway officials first warned of the phishing scam in the spring of 2024. According to the FBI, over 60,000 complaints over this scam came in nationwide- and that number is for 2024 alone.
Previous versions of the phishing text came from area codes outside of the Chicago and Indiana, with different iterations of the Illinois Tollway name, including “Illinois Toll way,” “Illinois Tollway Services” or “Illinois Tollway Invoice.”
More recent versions just say “toll roads.”
The agency also reminded users of the correct Illinois Tollway website to pay tolls online, and asked customers who receive a suspicious text to report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Here’s more information on what to do if you receive a text, and what to look for:
According to the Illinois Tollway, here’s what you should do if you receive a message:

source