Scam Alert: Fake ‘Toll Evasion’ Texts Targeting Louisiana Residents

The easiest way for scammers to target Louisiana residents is over the phone, especially via text message.

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By now, you have probably received dozens of automated texts where scammers pose as anything from UPS, Amazon, or a local police agency to a fake jury duty reminder.

The latest text scam targeting Louisiana residents from Lake Charles, Crowley, to Lafayette is warning of 'Toll Evasion', specifically a road toll that has gone unpaid.

Louisiana doesn't have many tolls, but we do have the occasional bridge toll, like the LA 1 Toll Bridge, located in South Louisiana and commonly used by people traveling to Grand Isle or Port Fourchon. Chalmette has an optional toll ferry and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which is likely the most well-known toll bridge in Louisiana, connecting Metairie to Mandeville.

However, we don't have any notable road tolls, so immediately, we knew this text message we received was a scam.

Toll Road Evasion Scam Targeting Louisiana Residents

The text message will allege that you currently have an 'unpaid toll bill' on our account, saying, "The Toll Roads Notice of Toll Evasion: You have an unpaid toll bill on your account. To avoid late fees, pay within 12 hours, or the late fees will be increased and reported to the DMV."

When we received this scam text, we did a quick Google search, and we found countless articles about the latest text message scam sweeping the country: 'The Toll Road Scam.'

The scammer tries to get the person on the receiving end of the text to 'reply Y' or copy and paste a link into their internet browser. Doing either will likely take them to a site granting them access to your personal information. While this goes without saying, please don't fall for it.

If you are concerned that you may owe a toll fee, DOTD has information on the Geauxpass and how to pay outstanding toll fees on their website.