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Urgent warning over new road toll scam: 'Deal with it'

If you receive this text message, don’t click the link.

Tamika Seeto
·Finance Reporter
Updated ·2-min read
Road toll scam.
There is a new spate of road toll scams doing the rounds. (Source: Getty/Scamwatch)

Aussie drivers are being warned of a new road toll scam, after motorists lost more than half a million dollars to the malicious scams last year.

The text messages, which purport to be sent by road toll operators, claim the driver has not paid a toll and needs to take action to avoid being fined.

“Your vehicle was not deducted when it passes [sic] through the Toll Gate, please deal with it in time to avoid fines,” one of the fake text messages reads.

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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch is warning Aussies about the phishing scams, which try to steal the recipient’s personal and financial information.

“Watch out for the latest round of road toll scams. Don’t click the link!” Scamwatch said.

“Instead, check your account by searching your registration plate number on the road toll company's website or log in the usual way.”

Aussies lose $664,000

Scamwatch received more than 14,500 reports of road toll scams in 2022, with reported losses totalling $664,000.

Scammers will often impersonate road toll operator Linkt and will claim the motorist has an overdue account or insufficient funds.

The scam messages may come from an unknown number or may use a spoofing technique to make them appear to be sent by Linkt.

Customers who click on the link are taken to a convincing fake Linkt website that is designed to steal their personal or financial details.

Linkt said some red flags to look out for include:

  • Incorrect spelling and grammar

  • Strange links that don’t look like legitimate websites

  • Requests that may be vague or unspecific

  • Use of urgent language or threats/consequences if you don’t take immediate action

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