Got a text message from Tennessee toll services? Why it's bogus and what to do if you get one

Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Get a text recently saying you owe money for an overdue Tennessee toll road payment to TollSunPassServices.com? Don't click the link.

Scammers are sending the texts to some people in many different states claiming that they will face a $50 fee if they don't pay the fake charge.

The text should seem particularly suspicious to Tennesseans, since the Volunteer State has no toll roads, the Tennessee Department of Transportation told The Tennessean.

What is the toll SunPass text scam?

The scam texts ask those who receive them to visit a website appearing to belong to an entity called "SunPass Services" to "settle your invoice."

A person is pictured holding an iPhone.
A person is pictured holding an iPhone.

"Tennessee toll services: We've noticed an outstanding balance of $11.69 on your record. To prevent a late fee of $50, please visit" the scam link, the texts read.

Versions of this scam appear to have been circulating for at least a month. They originally targeted Floridians, since Florida's toll collection system is SunPass, but the scam has expanded to other jurisdictions. The Palm Beach Post reported that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said at a press conference that cybercriminals are sending the texts in hopes that drivers "will be tricked into paying a toll fee for a violation that never occurred."

What should you do if you get a scam text?

First, don't click the link. If you get a text saying you owe a toll from another state, verify the charge with that state's agency independently.

You can also report the text. Alex Denis, TDOT's assistant chief of communications and public affairs, said that people who get the text should report the text to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Denis said that if enough people report that the cyber crime is taking place, the FBI may put out a state alert.

Also, you can register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov. The registry helps block robocalls and spam text messages.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Toll SunPass Services message: What to know about scam text