Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority are warning North Carolinians about a surge in text message scams falsely claiming to be from NC Quick Pass and other tolling agencies. These scams demand payment for supposed unpaid tolls, and the North Carolina Department of Justice is actively investigating.
“These scam texts are targeting a massive number of people—including me,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “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.”
The scam texts are sent at random, not specifically targeting actual toll users. In early 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 2,000 complaints about fraudulent toll collection texts in just three states over a single month. The scam has since spread nationwide. NC Quick Pass is receiving thousands of phone calls each day from citizens asking about the legitimacy of the texts. Clicking the link in these texts can expose victims to financial fraud, allowing scammers access to bank accounts and personal data.
International law enforcement traced the origin of these scams to Canada in early 2024. Since then, officials believe the perpetrators have moved operations to the U.S., dramatically scaling up their efforts—a sign of the scheme’s profitability. The Department of Justice is working with federal and international partners to track the source of these scams and investigate how fraudsters are using URLs that closely mimic legitimate NC Quick Pass websites.
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