Recently, 72-year-old Tracy Jeffords received a text message claiming he owed money for using a toll bridge. Since Jeffords had been in San Francisco for a heart procedure, he assumed the message was legitimate and related to his trip. Believing it was a genuine toll fee, he provided his debit card information to make the payment.
Jeffords received a follow-up text message the very next day claiming he needed to make an additional payment. Concerned by this second message, he decided to check his bank account to clarify the situation. To his dismay, upon reviewing his account, he discovered he had fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme that had cost him $3,300.
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"It made me feel terrible," Jeffords said. Jeffords also cautioned, "It’s going to happen to somebody else."
Unfortunately, he’s right. That’s because Jeffords was the victim of a FasTrak text scam, and there have been many similar texts sent out to people in the Bay Area for months.
FasTrak scams put drivers at serious risk
FasTrak manages California’s toll collection system, but it does not send text messages asking individuals to provide their debit card information for unpaid tolls.
This is not a legitimate toll collection operation, but rather a scam involving individuals who are falsely representing themselves as toll authorities. These scammers are distributing fraudulent payment notices to residents across the state, demanding payment for alleged toll violations.
FasTrak issued a warning about the scam, telling ABC 7 News that customers are repeatedly being sent messages instructing them to visit a certain fraudulent site in order to pay their toll bills. Those who receive the threats via text are warned that if they don’t act quickly and pay in full, they’ll face legal penalties.
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FasTrak scams put drivers at serious risk
FasTrak manages California’s toll collection system, but it does not send text messages asking individuals to provide their debit card information for unpaid tolls.
This is not a legitimate toll collection operation, but rather a scam involving individuals who are falsely representing themselves as toll authorities. These scammers are distributing fraudulent payment notices to residents across the state, demanding payment for alleged toll violations.
FasTrak issued a warning about the scam, telling ABC 7 News that customers are repeatedly being sent messages instructing them to visit a certain fraudulent site in order to pay their toll bills. Those who receive the threats via text are warned that if they don’t act quickly and pay in full, they’ll face legal penalties.
"You have an outstanding toll," ABC 7 reported that one of the text messages said. "Your toll account balance is outstanding. If you fail to pay by (a date or) April 19, 2025, you will face penalties or legal action."
Unfortunately, when a phone user falls for one of these scams and provides their information, they can quickly lose a lot of money, just as Jeffords did.
"The primary thing is that the money moves almost instantaneously. And when the money is moved, you cannot easily get it back. In most cases, it’s gone," Michel Weksler, a payment security consultant and tech expert, told ABC 7.
That’s exactly the experience Jeffords had, since he has tried to dispute the $3,300 withdrawal and subsequent eBay purchase, but hasn’t been able to get his funds returned. "It’d be everything to get it back, because it’s a lot for me. You know, I don’t work," Jeffords commented.
How to avoid toll scams
Toll scams like the one Jefford fell victim to have become so common that the Federal Trade Commission had to issue a consumer alert about them in January.
The FTC said that any text about tolls is "a phishing scam" and warned that "not only is the scammer trying to steal your money, but if you click the link, they could get your personal info (like your driver’s license number) — and even steal your identity."
The good news is, the FTC has some foolproof tips to help you avoid falling victim to a scam like this one. The FTC advises:
- Never click on any links when you get an unexpected text
- Stop and check out any texts that you get that are unexpected, especially if scammers try to create a sense of urgency to get you to move quickly
- Reach out to the state’s tolling agency if you get a similar text message, using a phone number that you find yourself on a website you know is real (look for a .gov website address)
- Report and delete any unwanted texts that came through
Taking these precautions can help you avoid ending up in a similar predicament to Jefford’s. As this scam victim’s experience demonstrates, these sophisticated schemes can target anyone, regardless of age, education, or financial savvy.
"Especially older people," he warned. “I have my facilities about me, but I don’t really think twice or get suspicious as I should, or as I used to."
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
