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“Good to Go” Toll Scam Texts Targeting Washington – 3 Steps to Instantly Protect Yourself

Elite Personal Finance

Last Update: March 20, 2025 • Financial News •

In the latest targeting of Washington state residents, the FBI and the Washington State Department of Transportation have reported an increase in “Good to Go” scam texts. These texts are linked to fictitious toll and transportation services providers requesting payment through fraudulent websites designed to steal personally identifiable information such as name and credit card.

In our earlier post on the WSDOT Facebook site, an explicit disclaimer read, “We’re getting reports of fake texts warning of overdue bills and asking for payments or threatening legal action,” WSDOT said. “These aren’t from Good To Go! and link to a fake website.”

With this latest scam, scammers target unsuspecting customers for non-payment of invoice tolls, redirecting them to a fictitious WSDOT website. Although the web address of MyGoodToGo.com is included within the text, the entire URL is obscured, easily tricking anyone into moving on to the website.

“Scammers have been sending fake text messages and emails that claim to be from Good To Go! and WSDOT,” said Christopher Foster, communications manager for WSDOT’s toll division. “These messages warn customers about unpaid tolls or issues with their accounts, urging them to click on a link to resolve the problem. It’s a phishing scam designed to steal personal data, including credit card information and account details.”

“There has been another surge in scam text messages that impersonate Good To Go!,” added WSDOT Communications official Lauren McLaughlin in an email to McClatchy. “These latest messages have made claims like ‘This is an official notification regarding the unpaid toll balance on your MyGoodToGo account’ and ‘WSDOT Good To Go Final Reminder’ and have threatened legal action if a payment is not made on fake websites the scammers created.”

Having a safeguard is essential to note that WSDOT does not communicate any payment reminders over SMS. As the best practice, always visit the root MyGoodToGo.com to check on your latest activity.

“Our advice to people who receive those scam texts remains the same, Good To Go! would not request payment through text or on any website but www.MyGoodToGo.com. Please don’t click on unknown links in texts,” McLaughlin continued.

Other states have reported a surge in toll scams. For example, California has seen an increase in fictitious FastTrak URLs sent to customers, as has New York and its Easy Pass Program.

Much of the text is very important in content, from the simple (amount owed) to more specific instructions on what happens when you fail to pay these tolls, such as forwarded transactions and additional penalties. Sometimes, text can even be AI-generated, containing spoofed phone numbers that make it appear even more real. In even the most extreme scenarios, correct license plate numbers or recent travel routes have been provided, raising questions about where scammers get this personal data.

Also, do not forget that social media posts and other sources where people routinely update their whereabouts are common ways scammers can personalize the attack even more.

How to Avoid Being the Victim of a Toll Text Message Scam

Here are some practical steps on how to avoid becoming the victim of a toll text message scam:

Verify Links

Never trust any URL that comes through an SMS. Scammers are experts at creating URLs that look identical to legitimate toll service websites like New York’s Easy Pass or California’s FastTrak, allowing them to catch even the most careful person. Remember that most services, including Washington State’s GoodToGo program, do not collect payments through text messages.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to catch fictitious links, usually rife with extra-character typos and odd formatting.

If you suspect that a text message is fraudulent, we encourage you to visit the official website by typing the actual name of the website into your web browser search bar. Contact your State Department of Transportation or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if you see any suspicious messages. Authorities have extensive databases that keep track of these new threats to better inform the public.

Urgent Language is a No

More often than not, fictitious toll scammers rely on fear tactics to drive unsuspecting customers into paying fraudulent tolls. Communications can include any number of items, such as pass-through collection notices, receipt lawsuits, or threats of fines and penalties if a fake payment is not made in time. Remember that legit toll agencies will always give you more than one way to pay off your invoices with no mandate via SMS.

Keep Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides a second line of defense to protect yourself from fraudulent SMS messages. Most toll providers offer this service, which helps prevent unauthorized access, even if scammers obtain your login credentials.

Remember, 2FA employs a PIN system with an automatic code sent to your SMS to verify before logging into the website.

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