Ignore texts about NC highway toll payments in Charlotte. Here’s why
A text message scam posing as toll road payment notices has intensified across North Carolina, and Charlotte residents are among the top targets.
A Charlotte resident who got one of these text messages posted a screenshot of it to Reddit in March, asking other users to confirm whether the message was a scam.
“It’s phishing,” one user wrote.
“Got the same thing this morning. It’s a scam,” another commented.
The scam, which first surfaced in North Carolina last summer, involves fraudulent text messages claiming recipients owe money to the N.C. Turnpike Authority or a vague “toll agency,” The News & Observer reported. These messages link to fake websites that threaten legal action, late fees, or additional charges if the payment isn’t made immediately.
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Though Charlotte-area drivers who use the Monroe Expressway or I-77 Express Lanes may think the text messages are legitimate, N.C. Quick Pass stresses it never requests payment via text.
“These scam texts are targeting a massive number of people — including me,” N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in a statement in March. “Don’t fall for them, and please warn your family. We’re investigating, but in the meantime, be wary of any unsolicited texts — especially those that claim to be from the government or threaten legal action.”
Due to the reports of scam texts, the FBI is raising awareness about “smishing,” a relatively new method scammers use to target people.
Smishing vs. phishing
The FBI issued an alert about the scam, known as “smishing” – a blend of “SMS” and “phishing” – warning that the texts aim to trick users into downloading malware, revealing personal information or sending money to criminals. The N.C. Turnpike Authority first detected the scam in July 2024, and the Attorney General’s Office believes the operation may have originated in Canada before spreading across the U.S.
The fraudulent messages are sent at random – even if the recipient does not use toll roads.
What to do if you get a scam text
The FBI suggests people who receive the messages do the following:
- File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. Include the phone number from where the text originated and the web address it provides.
- Check your N.C. Quick Pass account at www.ncquickpass.com/.
- Contact the Quick Pass customer service center at 877-769-7277 to let it know about the text.
- elete the smishing text.
- If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
