Is This Linkt Text Message a Scam?
You receive a text saying you have an unpaid toll. The amount may be small, but the message warns that extra fees, penalties or account restrictions will follow unless you pay immediately.
There is a good chance it is a scam.
Criminals regularly impersonate Linkt and other toll-road operators because the messages are believable. Millions of Australians use toll roads, and a demand for a small payment can feel easier to settle than investigate.
Do not click the link.
Instead, close the message and check your account independently through the official Linkt app or by typing linkt.com.au into your browser yourself.
The short answer
A text message claiming to be from Linkt should be treated cautiously if it:
contains a payment link
asks for your bank or card details
demands immediate action
threatens large additional fees
uses an unfamiliar website address
asks you to confirm personal information
says your account will be suspended
claims you have only a few hours to pay
Linkt may send genuine account notifications and overdue reminders by SMS.
However, Linkt states that it does not ask customers to provide payment details through links in text messages or emails.
The safest test is simple. Do not use anything contained in the message. Open the official Linkt app or manually visit the official website and check whether the toll, invoice or account warning appears there.
How to check a Linkt message safely
1. Do not click the link
Do not tap the link to see where it goes.
A fake website may closely copy Linkt’s colours, logo, layout and payment page. Looking professional does not make it genuine.
The page may be designed to steal:
credit or debit card information
online banking details
Linkt account passwords
email passwords
your name and address
driver licence information
verification codes sent to your phone
2. Open Linkt independently
Use the official Linkt app or type the following address into your browser:
Do not copy the address from the suspicious message.
Log into your account and check:
your current balance
recent trips
unpaid toll invoices
account notifications
vehicles registered to the account
payment details that may have expired
If the alleged debt does not appear, contact Linkt through the contact information published on its official website.
3. Check the website address carefully
A scam address may contain words such as:
linkt
toll
invoice
payment
road
account
overdue
Australia
That does not make it an official Linkt website.
Scammers may use extra letters, misspellings, unusual endings or addresses that place “linkt” somewhere within a much longer domain.
Do not rely on the padlock symbol either. A scam website can still use an encrypted connection and display a padlock.
4. Do not trust the sender name alone
A message may appear in the same conversation as earlier genuine Linkt messages.
It may even display “Linkt” as the sender.
That is not conclusive proof that it came from Linkt. Sender information can be manipulated, and changes to SMS sender identification do not remove every risk.
Judge the request itself. A demand to follow a link and enter payment information should be treated as suspicious.
What do Linkt scam texts usually say?
The wording changes, but common examples include:
your toll payment has failed
you have an unpaid toll trip
an overdue toll invoice remains unpaid
your Linkt account will be suspended
additional penalties will be added today
your vehicle registration may be affected
your payment method has expired
you are eligible for a toll refund
you must update your account details
a small payment is required to avoid a larger fine
The message may contain spelling mistakes, but some scam texts are professionally written and difficult to distinguish from genuine notifications.
Good spelling is not proof that a message is real.
Does Linkt send genuine text messages?
Yes. Linkt may contact customers by SMS for legitimate account and tolling reasons.
A real reminder may refer you to Linkt’s official services. That does not mean every message carrying the Linkt name is genuine.
Linkt states that it does not ask customers to provide payment details through links in text messages or emails. It encourages customers to log into their accounts directly through the Linkt app or official website.
If you are unsure, do not reply to the message and do not call a telephone number contained in it. Find Linkt’s contact information independently.
Why are fake toll messages so convincing?
Toll scams work because the demand often feels possible.
You may have:
recently driven interstate
used a toll road without noticing
borrowed somebody else’s vehicle
hired a rental car
changed registration details
forgotten to update a payment card
heard a tag beep differently
received a real toll notice in the past
Scammers do not necessarily know that you used a toll road. They can send large numbers of messages and wait for someone who believes the demand might relate to a recent trip.
The small amount requested is also part of the trap. A person may pay quickly because checking the account feels like more trouble than losing a few dollars.
The real loss can occur after the payment, when the stolen card or personal information is used again.
What if the text knows my name or vehicle details?
Personal information does not prove the message is genuine.
Names, telephone numbers, email addresses and other information can be obtained through:
previous data breaches
compromised online accounts
public records
social media
fake competitions
earlier scam interactions
information traded between criminals
A scam may combine real information with a fake debt to appear credible.
Check the alleged toll through an independent and official channel.
What if I do not have a Linkt account?
People without Linkt accounts can still receive scam messages.
Scammers usually send messages broadly. They do not need to know whether the recipient has an account.
You may also receive a real toll invoice without holding an account if a vehicle registered to you travelled on a toll road without an accepted payment arrangement.
The correct response is still the same:
Do not use the link in the message.
Visit the official Linkt website independently.
Search for any genuine outstanding toll using the official process.
Contact Linkt directly if you remain uncertain.
What if I was driving a rental car?
Do not assume a text is genuine because you recently hired a vehicle.
Rental toll arrangements vary between companies. The charge may be handled through:
the rental company
an automatic tolling product attached to the vehicle
your own compatible toll account
a separate toll provider
an invoice issued after the hire period
Check your rental agreement and contact the rental company using contact details from its official website or your original booking.
Do not pay through an unexpected text link.
What should I do with a suspicious Linkt message?
Before deleting it:
Take a screenshot.
Do not click the link.
Report the message through Linkt’s official scam-reporting page.
Report it to Scamwatch.
Block the sender if your device allows it.
Delete the message.
Do not reply. A reply may confirm that your telephone number is active.
You can report suspicious Linkt communications at:
You can also report the incident through:
What if I clicked the link but entered nothing?
Close the page immediately.
Do not download anything, accept notification requests or install an application.
If the page instructed you to install software, a browser extension or a security tool, do not proceed.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre warns that opening a malicious link or following instructions to install software can expose a device to malicious activity.
If you are concerned:
update the operating system and security software on the device
run a reputable security scan
review recent downloads and installed applications
monitor your accounts for unfamiliar activity
seek assistance through the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 CYBER1, which is 1300 292 371
What if I entered my card details?
Contact your bank or card provider immediately.
Use the number printed on your card or the number published through the bank’s official website. Do not call a number provided in the scam message.
Tell the bank that your card details may have been entered into a phishing website.
Ask what action is required regarding:
blocking or replacing the card
disputed or pending transactions
digital wallets connected to the card
additional security on the account
future attempted transactions
Continue monitoring the account. Criminals may attempt a small transaction first or wait before using the information.
What if I entered a password?
Change the password through the real website or application.
If you used the same or a similar password anywhere else, change it on those accounts too. Start with your email and financial accounts.
Use a different, strong password for every important account.
Do not follow password-reset links sent in response to the incident unless you requested the reset through the official website yourself.
What if I gave away personal identification?
If you provided information such as your driver licence, passport, Medicare number or banking details, contact IDCARE for identity and cyber-support advice.
IDCARE’s Australian telephone number is:
1800 595 160
You should also contact the organisation that issued the affected identification and ask what protective steps are available.
What if money has already been taken?
Act immediately.
Contact your bank or card provider and report the transactions. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or disputed.
Keep:
screenshots of the message
the fake website address
bank transaction records
emails or receipts
telephone numbers used
the date and time of each event
any correspondence with your bank or Linkt
Report the incident to Scamwatch. If a cybercrime has occurred, use the reporting and recovery guidance at cyber.gov.au.
Be cautious of anyone who later contacts you and promises to recover your money for a fee. Scam victims are sometimes targeted again through fake recovery services.
Could I still have a real unpaid toll?
Yes.
A scam message and a genuine unpaid toll are separate issues.
Receiving a fake message does not prove that your toll account is clear. Likewise, having a genuine unpaid toll does not make the payment link in a particular text safe.
Check through the official Linkt app or website.
If a real toll invoice, Demand Notice, infringement or SPER matter exists, deal with that document through the official process and by its stated deadline.
Read our guide to Queensland toll notices for help identifying the document you have received.
Toll invoice, Demand Notice or scam text?
A real Queensland toll matter may progress through several stages:
unpaid toll travel
toll invoice or toll notice
Demand Notice
penalty infringement notice
SPER enforcement
A text message by itself is not a substitute for carefully checking the actual document and your official account.
If you have received a formal Demand Notice, read our Queensland Demand Notice guide.
If the wording refers to failing to comply without reasonable excuse, read what may count as a reasonable excuse.
Frequently asked questions
Are all Linkt text messages scams?
No.
Linkt may send genuine SMS notifications and reminders. However, you should not enter payment details through a link in a text message.
Open the official Linkt app or website independently.
Will Linkt send me a payment link?
Linkt states that it does not ask customers to provide payment details through links in text messages or emails.
Do not use an unexpected message link to pay.
Can a scam text appear under the name “Linkt”?
Yes.
The displayed sender name should not be treated as proof of identity. Check the request through the official app or website.
What if the text appears beside old, genuine Linkt messages?
Treat the new request on its own merits.
Its position in an existing conversation does not prove that it is genuine.
Should I reply and ask whether the message is real?
No.
Do not reply. Contact Linkt separately using details found through its official website.
Can I check a toll without clicking the text?
Yes.
Navigate independently to the official Linkt website or app. Linkt provides official account and toll-invoice checking options.
Should I ignore every unpaid-toll warning?
No.
Ignore the suspicious link, but independently check whether a genuine toll debt exists. Formal notices can carry deadlines and should not be ignored.
Where can I report a Linkt scam?
Report it through Linkt’s official scam-reporting page and Scamwatch.
If you lost money or exposed financial information, contact your bank immediately.
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If this guide helped you avoid a scam or understand a genuine toll notice, you can support our public-interest work.
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Return to our Australian toll roads, fines and reform guide for the complete collection of toll information, legal developments and reform work.
Related guides
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Disclaimer
This page provides general information about identifying and responding to suspected scam messages. It is not legal, financial, cyber-security or identity-recovery advice.
If you have lost money, disclosed financial information or exposed identity documents, contact your bank and the appropriate support services immediately.
Information reviewed on 26 September 2026.