New Delhi. If you are also thinking of buying FASTag Annual Pass or are already planning to renew it, then be very cautious. NHAI has recently issued a major fraud alert in which vehicle owners are being duped through fake websites and unauthorized links. NHAI officials say that some fake online platforms and links claim to be selling “Annual Pass”, but in reality they are fraud traps. Trusting these false offers not only increases the risk of losing your money by almost Rs 3,000 and also the risk of misuse of personal and vehicle information entered while purchasing it.

What is annual FASTag pass?
FASTag Annual Pass is an annual facility introduced by NHAI for private vehicles that frequently travel on national highways and expressways. Under this, by paying a one-time fee of ₹ 3,000, the vehicle owner can travel without toll charges for a year or 200 tolls (whichever is completed first).

This Annual Pass can be obtained only through Rajmargyatra App or official NHAI website. As soon as the pass is activated, it is confirmed via SMS. This may not be applicable on some tolls like Tikri and private expressways so it is important to check the route and toll list before travelling.

What is the method of scam?
NHAI has found that some fake websites, unauthorized links and unauthorized apps claim to sell “FASTag Annual Pass”. These platforms lure people with their fake advertisements and attractive offers. As soon as the user clicks on these fake links and enters his vehicle and personal information, many times the money is already deducted and the pass is never activated.

Some users have also shared experiences online where the payment page on the official app freezes or the pass is not able to be made due to vehicle details not being in the VAHAN database. Caution is necessary in such cases.