EZDriveMA is legitimate. It’s the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ official, all-electronic tolling program for state roadways such as the Massachusetts Turnpike and Tobin Bridge. Drivers either pay automatically using an E-ZPass MA transponder or receive a Pay By Plate invoice by mail.
Because the brand is trusted and widely recognized, scammers are impersonating EZDriveMA via text messages to trick people into paying on fake websites or handing over card details.
Recently, residents inside and outside Massachusetts have reported short, urgent text messages claiming they owe a small unpaid toll and must “resolve” it immediately. These messages are not from the state. They’re part of a phishing campaign delivered by SMS, often called smishing, that aims to harvest payment information and personal data.
What the Scam Texts Look Like?
Most fake messages share the same patterns:
- A claim that you have an unpaid toll or “account issue” with EZDriveMA.
- A small, odd amount (for example, a few dollars) meant to lower your guard.
- Urgent language: pay now to avoid late fees, penalties, or account suspension.
- A shortened or look-alike web address that is not the official state website.
- Messages sent to people who haven’t driven in Massachusetts at all.
These details are designed to make you act quickly and click before you think.
Is EZDriveMA the Same as E-ZPass?
EZDriveMA and E-ZPass are related but not the same system. EZDriveMA is the official electronic tolling program used specifically in Massachusetts. It manages toll collection on Massachusetts roadways through two methods: E-ZPass MA (the state’s own transponder program) and Pay By Plate invoices mailed to drivers who don’t have a transponder. In other words, EZDriveMA is the umbrella system that oversees all toll payments within the state.
E-ZPass, by contrast, is a broader regional network used in 19 states across the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. States such as New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania use E-ZPass as part of a large interoperable system that lets drivers use one transponder across multiple states.
While Massachusetts participates in this network through E-ZPass MA, the two names aren’t identical. EZDriveMA refers to the full tolling system, while E-ZPass refers specifically to the transponder program that works across member states.
If you drive in multiple states, your E-ZPass transponder will still work in Massachusetts. But when you manage bills, invoices, or toll disputes in Massachusetts, you’ll do so through EZDriveMA, not through a general E-ZPass website.
How the Real EZDriveMA Works?
Understanding how the real system operates makes spotting fakes much easier:
- All-electronic tolling: There are no cash booths. Toll gantries scan a transponder or your license plate.
- Two legit paths to pay:
- E-ZPass MA: Linked to your account, replenished automatically.
- Pay By Plate: If you don’t have a transponder, an invoice is mailed to the registered vehicle owner.
- E-ZPass MA: Linked to your account, replenished automatically.
- Official communication: Real notices are delivered by mail or viewed after you sign in on the official state website or call official customer service numbers you look up yourself.
- No payment links by text: The tolling program does not text you to collect payment.
If a message asks you to pay by tapping a link in a text, it’s a red flag.
Red Flags That a Message Isn’t Really EZDriveMA
- It arrives by text and contains a payment link.
- The amount due is very small and oddly specific.
- The message threatens immediate penalties or suspension.
- The web address is shortened, misspelled, or uses unfamiliar domains.
- You live far from Massachusetts or haven’t driven there recently.
- The sender discourages you from visiting the official portal or contacting customer support independently.
Treat any one of these signs as suspicious; multiple signs almost certainly mean the message is fake.
“I Got the Text, What Should I Do?”
- Do not click. Delete the message without tapping the link or replying.
- Verify independently. If you think you might actually owe a toll, go to the official state tolling site by typing the address yourself in a browser, or call the customer service number listed on the state site or on a mailed invoice you already have.
- Check your mail. Real Pay By Plate invoices arrive via postal mail and include your plate number, travel date(s), and instructions to pay through the official portal or by mail.
- Report the smishing attack. Forwarding the text to your mobile carrier’s spam reporting number (commonly 7726 in many regions) helps block it for others. You can also report it to state consumer protection or your local authorities.
What To Do If You Already Clicked or Paid
Move quickly; time matters.
- Contact your bank or card issuer immediately. Ask them to block the card, reverse the charge if possible, and issue a new card number.
- Change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication on your email and financial accounts in case the phishing site captured login details.
- Monitor accounts for unfamiliar transactions and set up alerts for new charges.
- Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus if you entered sensitive personal information.
- Keep records (screenshots of the text, the fake site, timestamps, and any confirmation screens). These help with disputes and reports.
Why You’re Seeing EZDriveMA Texts Outside Massachusetts
Scammers run broad, automated campaigns using recognizable tolling brands. They reuse the same script across states, sometimes swapping names like EZDriveMA, E-ZPass, or FasTrak, to cast the widest net. Messages go to random numbers, not just to drivers in Massachusetts, which is why people in other states receive them.
How To Pay a Real Toll or Fix a Real Issue
- If you used a Massachusetts toll road without a transponder, wait for the mailed invoice or proactively check your status by visiting the official portal you typed yourself into the browser.
- If you already have an E-ZPass MA account, sign in the way you normally do, never through a text link, to review activity, update plates, or clear balances.
- If something looks off (wrong plate, unfamiliar trip), contact customer service using the phone number you find on the official state site or from past statements, not a number in a suspicious message.
Practical Safety Tips
- Assume toll payment texts are fake. The official program does not collect payment by SMS.
- Type web addresses yourself. Don’t trust links in messages, even if they look official.
- Use strong device and account security. Keep your phone and browser updated; use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.
- Educate family members. Share a screenshot of what a smishing text looks like and explain the steps above, elderly relatives and new drivers are frequent targets.
- Trust your instincts. If the amount is tiny but the pressure is high, it’s probably a phish.
FAQs
No. It’s the official Massachusetts electronic tolling system. The texts demanding payment by link are a scam.
No. Real notices come by mail, and payments are made only through official channels you access on your own.
Smishing campaigns blanket many states at once. The sender doesn’t know where you travel.
A real bill arrives by postal mail with your plate, trip dates, and clear instructions. You can also confirm by signing in through the official portal you typed manually or by calling the official customer service number you looked up yourself.
Contact your bank right away to block or replace your card, dispute the charge, and monitor your accounts. Change passwords and consider a fraud alert if you entered personal data.
