Is your phone buzzing with urgent toll notices? Chinese criminal organizations are behind a massive “smishing” scam targeting American drivers that’s become so widespread the FBI had to step in. Next time you get a text about a toll – make sure it’s a road you actually drove on.
At a glance:
• Over 2,000 complaints have been filed with the FBI about fake toll notice text messages in the past month
• Chinese criminal gangs operating from Southeast Asian data centers are suspected to be behind the sophisticated operation
• The scams have spread to at least 10 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, including states without toll roads
• Messages threaten drivers with fines or suspended licenses if “unpaid tolls” aren’t immediately settled
• Elderly and less tech-savvy Americans are particularly vulnerable to these fraudulent schemes
Chinese Criminal Organizations Target American Drivers
The FBI has issued an urgent warning about a surge in “smishing” scams where criminal organizations send fake text messages claiming to be from legitimate state toll agencies. These sophisticated schemes are designed to trick hardworking Americans into handing over their financial information by creating a false sense of urgency about unpaid tolls.
With over 2,000 complaints already filed, federal authorities believe Chinese criminal gangs operating massive data centers in Southeast Asia are behind this coordinated attack on American motorists. The operation has become so sophisticated that cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks has identified more than 10,000 domains registered specifically for these scams.
IC3 ALERT: Did you receive a message that said you have unpaid tolls? STOP! It's likely a smishing scam. Don't click the link. Think to yourself, did you really travel a toll road recently and not pay? Learn more and don't become a scam victim: https://t.co/LbsDZDvHo1 pic.twitter.com/5RlpWT9aLp
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) February 19, 2025
Jon Clay, a cybersecurity expert tracking these operations, explains the scale of these criminal enterprises.
“They are basically building big data centers in the jungle,” Clay said.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill also stepped in to warn Americans against responding to the text messages.
“It is a SCAM. If you ever receive a text that looks suspicious, be sure to never click on it. You don’t want your private information stolen by scammers,” Murrill said.
How The Scammers Bypass Security Measures
The criminals behind these schemes have developed clever methods to bypass smartphone security features, particularly on iPhones. By asking recipients to reply with a simple “Y” to the message, they can reopen security vulnerabilities that would normally block suspicious links from unknown senders.
These scam operations have become extremely difficult to shut down due to their low cost and high volume approach. Google search data shows a shocking 900% increase in searches for “toll road scams” as more Americans encounter these fraudulent messages in their daily lives.
The scams are so convincing that even people in states without toll roads are falling victim. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark highlighted this problem, stating: “We do not have toll roads in Vermont but travelers may mistake these scams for actual toll operators in other states.”
Cybersecurity expert Amy Bunn warns that these scams are designed to exploit human emotion rather than technological vulnerabilities: “Scammers want people to panic, not pause.” This psychological manipulation is particularly effective against older Americans who may not recognize digital scam patterns.
How To Protect Yourself From These Foreign Scams
The FBI is advising citizens to immediately delete any suspicious text messages about unpaid tolls and to file complaints with their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Americans should never click links in unexpected text messages, even if they appear to come from government agencies.
To verify legitimate toll charges, drivers should only use official websites or apps provided by state transportation authorities. These official channels require users to manually enter information rather than clicking potentially malicious links that could compromise personal data.
And if you receive a text about a toll, use common sense: if it’s not a road you’ve traveled on, or an area you’re familiar with, then delete it right away!