Unpaid Toll Scams
Waves of texts claiming you owe a few dollars in unpaid tolls — usually impersonating Linkt or E-Toll — have flooded Australian phones. The amounts are deliberately small, often around $3, but the fake payment page captures your full card details and personal information.
This guide explains how the scam works, the warning signs to watch for, and what to do if you've been caught out. Got a specific message in front of you? Check it now and get an instant verdict.
How this scam works
A text arrives claiming you have an outstanding toll — typically an oddly specific small amount like $3.32 — and warns of late fees, debt collection or even licence suspension if you don't pay promptly. The link opens a page mimicking Linkt or E-Toll that asks for your card number and often your name, address and licence details. The small amount is the point: it feels easier to just pay than to check, and because plenty of drivers do occasionally use toll roads, the message seems plausible. Once you 'pay', the scammers hold your full card details and identity information, which they use for far larger fraudulent charges. The texts are sent indiscriminately — most recipients haven't driven a toll road at all.
How to spot it
- Toll demands arriving as urgent SMS payment links — toll operators issue notices with reasonable timeframes, not 'pay in 24 hours or else' texts
- Domains that aren't linkt.com.au, etoll.com.au or eastlink.com.au — hyphenated or .com/.co variations in the style of 'linkt-au.com' are fake
- Tiny amounts ($3–$10) paired with outsized threats like late fees, debt collectors or licence suspension
- You don't drive on toll roads, or the toll road named isn't in your state
- No account number, licence plate or trip details — genuine toll notices identify the actual travel
What to do if you have been targeted
- If you entered card details, call your bank immediately to block the card and dispute any charges
- Check whether you genuinely owe a toll by typing linkt.com.au into your browser and logging in or using their unpaid toll search — never via the SMS link
- If you provided licence or identity details, contact IDCARE (idcare.org) for free identity support
- Report the text to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au), then delete it
- Keep an eye on your card statement for weeks afterwards — stolen details are often used after a delay
Where to report it
- Scamwatch — Report the scam to the ACCC's national scam service.
- ReportCyber — Report cybercrime and financial loss to the police.
- ACMA — Report scam texts and spam SMS or calls.
- Forward to 7226 (SPAM) — Forward the scam SMS to short code 7226 so your carrier can block the source.
- IDCARE — Free identity and cyber support if your details were taken.
Related brands targeted by this scam
Scammers often impersonate these names in unpaid toll scams. Here's how to tell a genuine message from a fake:
Check a suspicious message now
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Frequently asked questions
I got a text saying I owe $3.32 in unpaid tolls. Is it real?
Almost certainly not. These small-amount toll texts are a mass-blast scam impersonating Linkt and E-Toll. If you want certainty, don't use the link — type linkt.com.au into your browser and check for unpaid tolls against your own plate or account. If nothing shows there, the text was a scam.
Why is the scam amount so small?
Because small amounts get paid without scrutiny. Nobody calls their bank over $3 — they just enter their card and move on. The scammers aren't after the $3; they're after the full card number, expiry and security code you type in, which they then use for much larger charges.
I do use toll roads sometimes. How do I check if I really owe something?
Go directly to the operator: type linkt.com.au (or your state's toll operator) into your browser, then log in or use their unpaid-toll search with your licence plate. Genuine toll debts always show up there. Never trust the link or phone number inside an SMS.
What actually happens if a real toll goes unpaid?
You receive a toll notice from the operator — typically by mail or email to your registered account — with a clear breakdown of the trip and a reasonable window to pay. Escalation is gradual and documented. A text demanding a few dollars 'today' to avoid licence suspension is not how Australian toll operators work.
Related scam types
Other scams hitting Australians right now — know the warning signs:
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — if you've lost money, contact your bank and the reporting channels above straight away.