FASTag woes in Bengaluru: Users report unexplained deductions, cyber frauds

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Bengaluru's FASTag users, equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags for efficient toll payments on national highways, find themselves facing a growing predicament.

Many have reported unwarranted deductions from their bank accounts for toll charges on days when their vehicles remained parked.

Arvind PS Tiwari, a marketing manager, shared his disconcerting experience after receiving a notification about a Rs 30 deduction at Plaza1@km 14825 at 11:35 pm.

Intriguingly, his vehicle was securely parked at his Kempapura residence that night.

Another case involves KN Shivaram Krishna, a senior manager, who was billed Rs 30 at the Bengaluru-Nelamangala toll plaza on December 19, despite his vehicle being at home in Abbigere.

Adding to the complexity, a Brahmavar resident, Francis Pius, faced cyber fraud while attempting to recharge his FASTag during a journey to Mangaluru.

Searching for the toll collection system's helpline due to a fund shortage, Pius inadvertently called a fraudulent number obtained from Google.

Posing as a Paytm Fastag representative, the scammer duped Pius into sharing his OTP. Initially losing Rs 49,000, subsequent transactions drained a total of Rs 99,997.

In response to these issues, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has issued guidelines on reporting incorrect FASTag deductions.

Users can contact the tollfree helpline of the bank from which they purchased FASTag, using the number provided on the FASTag sticker.

Additionally, individuals can file complaints about incorrect toll deductions through the FASTag portal of the respective bank. Each bank has set up a dedicated FASTag portal, offering comprehensive information for users to report discrepancies promptly.

Vigilance and swift reporting are imperative to maintaining the integrity of this widely adopted electronic toll payment system, ensuring a seamless and secure experience for all FASTag users in Bengaluru and beyond.