Recognising Fake Toll Road and E-Tag Invoice Scams in Australia

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: Recognising Fake Toll Road and E-Tag Invoice Scams in Australia. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Fraudulent toll road and e-tag invoice scams are targeting Australian motorists and small businesses. These scams typically arrive via email or SMS and claim you have an unpaid toll or a problem with your e-tag account. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, entering your payment details, or downloading malware onto your device.

Common Warning Signs

Scammers often impersonate legitimate providers such as Linkt, EastLink, Transurban, or state-based toll operators. Look for these red flags:

• The message claims you have an unpaid toll or an outstanding balance you do not recognise.
• The sender email address does not match the official toll operator's domain.
• The message uses urgent or threatening language, such as legal action or additional fines.
• Links in the message lead to unfamiliar websites or IP addresses instead of the official operator's portal.
• The message requests payment via unusual methods, such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, or direct bank transfer to a personal account.
• Generic greetings like "Dear Customer" instead of your name or account number.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Do not click any links or open attachments in the suspicious message.
2. Do not reply to the email or SMS.
3. Delete the message from your inbox and your deleted items folder.
4. If you have already clicked a link or entered details, proceed to the If You Have Been Compromised section below.

Detailed Instructions

Verifying a Legitimate Toll Invoice

1. Open your web browser and navigate directly to the official toll operator's website by typing the address manually. Do not use links from the message.
2. Log in to your account using your usual credentials.
3. Check your invoice history and current balance within your account dashboard.
4. If no outstanding balance is shown, the message you received was fraudulent.
5. If you do not have an online account, visit the operator's official contact page and call their verified phone number to enquire.

Reporting the Scam

1. Forward the suspicious email to the official toll operator's fraud or security team, if they provide a reporting address on their website.
2. Report SMS scams by forwarding the message to 0429 999 888 (the Australian Cyber Security Centre's Scamwatch SMS reporting service).
3. Report the incident to Scamwatch at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
4. If you received the message on a business device, inform your IT administrator or Open a Ticket with 220 Internet Services.

If You Have Been Compromised

1. If you entered payment card details, contact your bank or card issuer immediately to report potential fraud and request a card stop or replacement.
2. If you entered login credentials for a toll account, change your password immediately on the official website.
3. If you reused that password on other accounts, change those passwords as well.
4. Run a full security scan on your device using your installed antivirus or security software.
5. If you downloaded or opened an attachment, disconnect the device from the internet and Open a Ticket for professional assistance.

Troubleshooting

Blocked Senders and Email Filtering

To reduce future scam messages, you can block the sender in your email client:

Microsoft Outlook (Desktop)

1. Select the suspicious email in your inbox.
2. Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
3. Click Junk and select Block Sender.
4. The email is moved to the Junk Email folder and future messages from that address are filtered automatically.

Gmail (Web Browser)

1. Open the suspicious email.
2. Click the three vertical dots menu (More) in the top-right corner of the message.
3. Select Block "[sender]".
4. Future messages from this address will be sent to your Spam folder.

Apple Mail (macOS)

1. Right-click the sender's name in the message header.
2. Select Block Contact from the context menu.
3. Messages from this sender will be marked as blocked according to your mail rules.

Mobile Devices

iOS (iPhone)

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Open the conversation with the suspicious sender.
3. Tap the sender's name or number at the top of the screen.
4. Tap info.
5. Tap Block this Caller and confirm.

Android

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Long-press the conversation you want to block.
3. Tap the Block icon or select Block from the menu.
4. Confirm your choice to block the number and report it as spam if prompted.

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