A new cyber scam targeting highway commuters is spreading rapidly in India, where fraudsters are cheating people in the name of FASTag recharges and annual passes. With toll payments now largely handled through FASTag, and frequent travelers opting for annual passes, scammers are exploiting this dependence by offering fake discounts online. These fraudsters misuse the name and logo of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to create convincing fake websites and advertisements. The scam has been flagged by CyberDost I4C, which operates under India’s cybercrime monitoring framework.
Recently, a 65-year-old resident of Chandigarh became a victim after falling for a discounted FASTag annual pass advertised online. Scammers had created a website that looked almost identical to the official NHAI portal, complete with similar branding, design, and even a misleading web address. Such fake websites are aggressively promoted through search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, causing them to appear at the top of Google search results when users look for terms like “FASTag recharge” or “FASTag annual pass.”
Once users land on these fraudulent websites, they are asked to enter sensitive details such as vehicle number, FASTag number, and mobile number. Enticed by the promise of discounts, many proceed to make payments without verifying authenticity. After payment, neither the recharge nor the annual pass is received. In many cases, the money is transferred to mule accounts, and victims also risk having their banking details compromised.
CyberDost I4C has advised that FASTag annual passes are available only through official channels, such as the Rajmargyatra mobile application or the official NHAI website. Users are strongly cautioned against trusting FASTag-related advertisements on social media or unknown websites. It is also important to remember that the first result on a Google search is not always the genuine or official source. To stay safe, commuters should recharge FASTag only through authorized bank apps, official FASTag issuer platforms, or verified government portals.
