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Maryland Transportation Authority Warns of Toll Text Scams

Officials caution state drivers that fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid tolls are circulating.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Cybersecurity

Isometric editorial illustration of a highway toll gate, representing the need for digital security in transit payment systems.
The Maryland Transportation Authority is advising drivers to ignore text messages demanding toll payments, as the agency does not use text-based collection methods. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Maryland Transportation Authority is warning residents that it does not use text messages to request toll payments. The agency issued the alert to prevent drivers from losing money or personal information to sophisticated smishing scams that mimic official correspondence.

Why it matters

Scammers are using fake text messages to trick motorists into providing sensitive data or making fraudulent payments by threatening late fees. This warning aims to protect the public from these phishing attempts by clarifying how the agency actually collects toll payments.

The Maryland Transportation Authority operates the official DriveEzMD platform for secure account management. Residents can verify legitimate account statuses by visiting the official portal or calling 1-888-321-6824.

The players

Maryland Transportation Authority

This state agency manages the toll facilities and digital infrastructure for Maryland roads.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

This federal law enforcement agency is tasked with investigating cybercrimes and tracking organized phishing campaigns.

The details

These smishing messages typically assert that the recipient has a small outstanding balance that will incur a larger late fee if not paid immediately. By imitating the logos and branding of official toll services, criminals attempt to lure victims into clicking malicious links designed to harvest private data.

Timeline

  1. The FBI began receiving complaints regarding toll collection smishing in March 2024.

  2. The FBI issued a public service announcement regarding these text scams in 2024.

  3. The Maryland Transportation Authority continued to issue warnings about these active scams on October 25, 2026.

The Tech Race

This activity follows the pattern established by the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for tracking and warning the public about emerging digital fraud trends. It marks a broader escalation in sophisticated phishing attacks that rely on impersonating critical public infrastructure systems.

Drivers should never click links in text messages regarding toll payments and should instead manage their accounts only through the official DriveEzMD website or mobile application. If you receive a suspicious message, do not enter your credit card information or provide personal details.

The takeaway

Always treat unsolicited payment requests via text with extreme skepticism regardless of how authentic the branding looks. Legitimate government services generally do not use text links to demand immediate payment under the threat of penalties.

Further reading

Learn more about identifying common digital threats on our Cybersecurity page.

More information

For secure account management and updates, visit the DriveEzMD official toll management portal.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.

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Do you typically verify unexpected text messages before clicking any links provided in them?