FASTag recharge scam alert: Money vanishes in seconds, government issues urgent warning

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): If you recharge your car's or vehicle's FASTag online using your mobile phone, this news will come as a major shock. FASTag, which helps avoid long lines at toll plazas and makes travel easier, has now become the latest and most dangerous weapon of cyber fraudsters. A small mistake can send your hard-earned money directly to the fraudsters' bank accounts instead of your FASTag wallet, leaving you stranded on the highway without a balance.

The Home Ministry agency exposed this horrific trap.

Regarding this major and dangerous scam, CyberDost I4C, a cyber security agency working under the Union Home Ministry, has issued an urgent alert on the social media platform 'X'. The agency has shared a video and warned motorists across the country that dozens of fake websites resembling the name of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are running rampantly on the internet. When an unsuspecting user searches the internet for recharging their Fastag or making an annual pass, these fake websites trap them.

Your hard-earned money is going straight into the pockets of scammers

These fake portals are cleverly designed to look exactly like genuine websites so that no one can suspect anything. As soon as you visit these websites and make an online payment for your Fastag or Annual Pass, instead of going to your Fastag account, the money is transferred directly to the bank account of these cyber criminals. You think your recharge has been successful, but when you reach the toll plaza barrier, this massive fraud is exposed.

This is the most surefire way to spot fake websites.

The government agency has clearly stated that it is possible to avoid this terrible fraud, you just need to be a little cautious before making any payment. Before clicking on any unknown link, carefully check the URL and spelling of that website. Fake websites are identified by spelling mistakes (slug errors) and the images used there are very blurry or low-quality. To avoid any kind of fraud, always use the official NHAI portal or make FASTag-related transactions through the secure 'Rajmarg Yatra App' on your smartphone.