Treat it as a scam until you've checked on the official site yourself.
Take out passwords, codes and card numbers first.
What it looks like
You have an unpaid traffic fine. Pay within 9 days for a 50% discount: [link]
The page asks for your details and card, then a "verification code", then your PIN. Sometimes it ends by sending you to the real authority's site so it all looks normal.
Red flags
- A fine or toll by text or email with a link to pay.
- A short deadline or a discount that runs out.
- A QR code or a payment link on the "notice".
- A request for a code from your bank.
What the authorities say
- DGT (Spain) never notifies fines by text or email. Real fines come by post or to your official electronic address, and Spain's real discount window is 20 days, not 9. The DGT says it has logged over 830 phishing attempts in its name in five years.
- ANTAI (France) never sends texts. Pay fines only on amendes.gouv.fr, and parking charges on stationnement.gouv.fr.
- DVLA (UK) sends vehicle tax refunds automatically, never by an email with a link, and never asks for your bank details.
- The FTC (US) has warned since January 2025 about fake unpaid toll texts.
If it's happening now
- Don't tap the link.
- Check for real fines on the authority's official site, typed yourself.
- Report the text and delete it.
Already paid or entered a code?
- Call your bank now on the number on your card and block the card.
- Tell them about any code you entered: it may have approved a payment.
- Keep the text and report it.
Where to report it
If money has gone or you shared card details, call your bank first, on the number on your card or in its app, never a number from the message.
Which country are you in?
- Free help, every day 8:00–23:00. INCIBE: call 017, WhatsApp 900 116 117 or Telegram @INCIBE017. Official page
- Report a scam message. Forward the email, or a screenshot of the text, to incidencias@incibe-cert.es. Official page
- If you lost money. Report it online at denuncias.policia.es, then sign it at a police station within 72 hours. Call 091 if it's happening now. Official page
- If your bank says no. Complain to your bank's customer service, then to the Banco de España if it won't help. Official page
- Report a scam text. Forward it to 7726, free. Official page
- Report a scam email. Forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Official page
- If you lost money. Report Fraud, at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland). In Scotland, Police Scotland on 101. Official page
- Report a scam text. Forward it to 33700, free. Official page
- Free help. 17Cyber, at 17cyber.gouv.fr. Official page
- Report a fake website. Pharos, at internet-signalement.gouv.fr. Official page
- If you lost money to an online scam. Complain online through THESEE on masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr. Official page
- If your card was used online. Block the card, then report the payments through Perceval on masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr. Official page
- Report a scam text. Forward it to 7726. Official page
- Report a scam. ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Official page
Read on the official pages on 12 November 2026.
Questions people ask
I did drive there recently. Could it be real? Check on the official site yourself. A real fine shows there.
Why does it say I get a discount? To make you pay fast. In Spain the real discount gives you 20 days.
What if I only opened the page? If you didn't enter anything, close it and delete the text. If you entered details, call your bank.
Do toll operators ever text? Some send texts you signed up for, but never a link asking for card details for an "unpaid" toll you didn't know about. Check in your toll account yourself.
Can Kiwi check the text? Yes. Press the button, paste it, and Kiwi tells you what looks wrong.