Illinois drivers targeted by fake IDOT ticket, toll text scam

Illinois motorists and those with Illinois-based cellular phone numbers should be aware of ongoing text scams.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has tracked these scams, which criminals use to phish for information and money. An initial statement on the scams by IDOT last November.

The scam claims recipients owe money for traffic tickets, toll violations, or other unpaid fines. Some messages threaten consequences such as additional fees or legal action if the recipient does not respond immediately.

Heartland Newsfeed’s work phone receives said text message

Heartland Newsfeed’s office phone received such an example of the text on Wednesday afternoon. Hilariously, it appeared in a copy-and-paste format with obvious omissions and terrible grammar:

LINOIS DMV LEGAL NOTICE: Immediate response required for your traffic citation by 03/26/26. Avoid permanent record mark, registration cancellation, 30-day suspension & 35% elevated fines. Respond here: [link omitted due to it being a scam]

The scam text came from an area code based in Orange County, California (657-529-5268). However, this scam uses a plethora of phone numbers with different area codes.

Fake IDOT website linked in the text

After receiving the text, we investigated the link using Incognito Mode on our web browser. The page shows what appears to be an IDOT website at first glance. However, that is all it is—a copycat. The only thing on the website in question demands a random fee. In our case, it demanded a fee of $6.99.

We found it incredibly strange for two reasons. First, we are nowhere close to any tollways. Second, when we cover government affairs in Springfield, we use private parking facilities, not government-operated ones.

Fortunately, shortly afterward, our phone carrier, AT&T, flagged the link and blocked the text message as spam.

IDOT: We don’t send unsolicited text messages

State officials emphasize that IDOT does not send unsolicited text messages demanding payment for tolls, tickets, or penalties. Agencies send legitimate notices involving fines through the mail.

Drivers who are concerned about unpaid tolls or fees should verify their status directly by logging into their Illinois Tollway account.

Do not answer or click suspicious messages. Instead, residents should report phishing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Fox2Now released a news story about this scam on Wednesday morning, and we feature that report below.

VIDEO: Secretary of State’s office makes a similar response