Texas toll road users are facing a surge in sophisticated SMS phishing scams impersonating TxTag, with fraudsters demanding urgent payments for fabricated overdue balances. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports a 300% increase in smishing attacks since February 2025, targeting both legacy TxTag accounts and those recently transferred to Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) management.
How the Scam Works
Drivers receive texts claiming:
- “FINAL NOTICE: Pay $57.20 by 2/28/25 to avoid vehicle registration suspension”
- “TxTag Alert: Past Due Balance – Click here to resolve”
These messages include malicious links mimicking official portals. Unlike legitimate TxTag/HCTRA communications – which only come from shortcode 22498 – scam texts originate from spoofed numbers.
Critical Updates for Toll Users
| Key Change | Details |
|---|---|
| New Management | HCTRA assumed control of all TxTag accounts on Dec 2, 2024 |
| Account Status | 1.4M accounts ($57M in balances) remain unresolved in transition |
| Fraud Protection | HCTRA now requires biometric verification for phone support |
Official Safety Guidelines
Authentic toll agencies will NEVER:
- Request credit card info via text/email
- Threaten immediate registration suspension
- Use generic greetings like “Dear Customer”
To verify transactions:
- Log in directly at HCTRA.org
- Call verified numbers: 1-888-468-9824 (TxTag) or 281-875-EASY (HCTRA)
- Report scams to FBI’s IC3 portal
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