TL;DR: Scam texts say you owe road toll late fees and link to a fake payment page. NZTA says genuine texts only come from 3651 and never include a payment link. In January 2025, a Tauranga driver got one days after actually using a toll road, which is exactly why it felt real. Don’t click. Check tolls by typing the NZTA site yourself, and report the text.
What the scam looks like
From SunLive (10 January 2025):
- A text asks you to pay unknown late fees on an outstanding road toll.
- It includes a link to a bogus payment page.
- The Tauranga recipient had used a toll road just days earlier.
Scammers don’t know you drove the toll road. They text thousands of people and wait for the ones who did.
The two-second test
NZTA says:
- Official texts only come from 3651.
- They never include a payment link.
Any other number, or any link, means scam.
Other red flags
- Bad grammar
- Overseas phone numbers
- Urgency: "pay today or face a penalty"
The email version: fake rego renewals
Texts aren’t the only route. Netsafe’s guide to NZTA scams says the most common fake NZTA emails ask you to "renew your rego", and scammers keep putting up new fake sites as old ones are taken down. Netsafe’s checks:
| Genuine NZTA email | Scam |
|---|---|
| Comes from @nzta.govt.nz or @reply.nzta.govt.nz | Any other address |
| Includes your vehicle details (plate, make, licence expiry) | Generic "your vehicle" |
| Never asks for your driver licence details to renew rego | Asks for licence number "to verify" |
That last one matters. A scam that gets your licence number and card has most of what it needs to open accounts in your name.
How to check your tolls
Go to the NZTA website by typing it yourself, or use NZTA’s app for licence and vehicle info. Don’t use the text’s link.
How to report
- Report it to NZTA using its online phishing form. NZTA: "The sooner we know about it, the faster we can act."
- Forward it to 7726 (how).
- Report it to Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz/report. Netsafe can’t investigate individual scams, but uses reports to track how they change.
- If you entered card or bank details: call your bank to replace the card, then report to Police (105).
- If you entered driver licence details: arrange a replacement licence through NZTA online or an approved agent, and contact IDCARE for free help.
- If you clicked a link: run a malware scan on the device.
The same trick, elsewhere
Australians get toll scam texts too; Canadians get 407 ETR texts. NZ fines texts are covered in our Ministry of Justice guide.
A free exposure check shows if your phone number is in leaked data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What email address do real NZTA emails come from?
Netsafe says genuine NZTA emails end in @nzta.govt.nz or @reply.nzta.govt.nz and include your vehicle details. NZTA never asks for driver licence details to renew rego.
What number do real NZTA texts come from?
NZTA says official texts only come from 3651.
Do NZTA toll texts include payment links?
No. NZTA says official texts never include a payment link.
How do I report a fake NZTA text?
Use NZTA’s online phishing form and forward the text to 7726.
What should I do if I paid a fake toll text?
Call your bank immediately and report it to Police.