Dosh dilemma: Andy’s ‘unpaid’ toll tight spot

Andy received a text saying he’d driven over the Dartford Crossing and hadn’t paid. He travels a lot for work and assumed he must have just forgotten.  

The message said that if he didn’t pay a £70 fine within 12 hours, he’d face extra charges and be reported to the authorities. 

Because Andy relies on driving for his job, he didn’t want to take any risks. So he clicked the link in the text, and, as everything looked professional, he paid the fine with his debit card. 

But something didn’t feel right. He didn’t get a confirmation and when he checked, the money had left his account. A quick search revealed what he’d feared - that the text was fake. Scam warning after scam warning popped up online about fake toll fines. 

Now Andy wants to know: can he get his money back? And what should you do if this happens to you? 

Scam toll texts are becoming more common, and more convincing.  

Here's what you should do: 

Contact your bank 

If you’ve paid, contact your bank or card provider straight away. Let them know what has happened. They may be able to reverse the transaction or refund you under the Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams code. 

An APP scam is where you’re tricked into sending money to a fraudster, often believing it's for something genuine. These scams are designed to pressure you into acting quickly, just like Andy experienced. 

Cancel your card 

If you entered your card details, cancel the card immediately. You can do this through your banking app or by calling your bank. They’ll issue you a new card.  

Report the scam 

You can report fraud to: 

• Action Fraud – the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Use the online reporting tool or call 0300 123 2040. 

• The police – call 101 to report what’s happened. 

Also, keep a record of all messages, screenshots and communication. These could be useful if your bank needs more information or if you want to make a complaint later. 

If you get a fake toll fine text, here’s how to stay safe: 

• Don’t respond or click on any links. 

• Check the link carefully. Use a tool like Bitdefender to scan it for fraud or phishing. If in doubt, don’t click. 

• Verify the fine directly. Log in to your toll account or call the official number to check if you owe anything. 

• Never share personal or payment details through unsolicited texts or emails. 

• Report the message to Action Fraud and block the number to stop future attempts. 

Scams like these are stressful, but you’re not alone. The most important thing is to act quickly. Contact your bank, report the fraud and stay alert to future scam attempts.  

The more people who report them, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.