The introduction of the new “free-flow tolling system” on several French motorways has caused confusion for many drivers. Unlike traditional toll booths, there are no barriers. Cameras record vehicle number plates, and motorists then have up to 72 hours to pay their toll online or through official payment points.

Since the system was launched, nearly 240,000 motorists have failed to pay on time. This gap has opened the door to fraudsters, who are now sending out fake SMS and email messages demanding payment.

The messages typically state that the driver has not paid for a recent motorway journey and must immediately settle a small sum — often around €6.80 — via a provided link. They threaten that failure to pay will result in a fine of around €90.

These fraudulent messages look convincing, sometimes even using the names of motorway operators such as SANEF. The use of shortened or suspicious links is a key sign of the scam.

Authorities remind motorists that genuine toll operators never send SMS messages with direct payment links. To check or pay a toll, drivers must go through the official motorway operator’s website or approved outlets.

🚨 SANEF Alert
Sanef has published an official warning: it never sends SMS messages to request toll payments. The only authorised website for toll payment is sanef.com. Any text message requesting payment with a link should be considered fraudulent. If you receive one, report it to 33700 (scam SMS reporting service), signal-spam.fr (for emails), or seek guidance via cybermalveillance.gouv.fr.

Motorists are advised to remain vigilant, particularly as the free-flow tolling system expands across France, making it an attractive target for scammers.

This is being reported by  L’Independent and FranceInfo