Viral Video claims windscreen cleaners at red light can extract money from FASTag; know here truth behind it

New Delhi: New innovations in technology have made our life very fast and easy. In keeping with the changes, the government introduced FASTag technology and made it mandatory for all vehicle owners to use it from 16th February 2021 or pay double the amount.

These days, a video is going viral on WhatsApp and social media, claiming that people who clean the windscreen of your car at the red lights can transfer money to their account by scanning Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

In the video, one can see a boy is wiping the screen, wearing a smartwatch-like device.

Watch the viral video here:

⁦@FASTag_NETC⁩ there is a video currently in circulation on scams involving scanning of fast tag and siphoning payments, is this true can you confirm? #cybersecurityawareness #cybersecurity pic.twitter.com/1L1uEDasT3

— Venkat Madala (@venky4a) June 18, 2022

Truth behind the claim regarding FASTag

According to FASTag, the claim in the video is not right and withdrawing the money is not possible. It added that any unauthorized device can not initiate any financial transactions on NETC FASTag.

Replying on the video, FASTag wrote on Twitter, ”NETC Fastag transaction can only be initiated by the registered merchants (Toll and Parking Plaza Operators) which are onboarded by NPCI only from the respective geo-locations. No unauthorized device can initiate any financial transactions on NETC FASTag. It is absolutely safe.”

Please note that there are baseless and false videos circulating on Social media. Do understand the below points:

1. No transactions can be executed through open internet connectivity. pic.twitter.com/AKqvcpVE1z

— FASTag NETC (@FASTag_NETC) June 25, 2022

Besides this, the PIB Fact Check also tweeted and dismissed the claim of the viral video. PIB wrote on Twitter,  ”A viral video claims that devices like watches are being used to swipe the Fastag on vehicles, leading to fraudulent deduction of money from prepaid wallets.”

The PIB fact check added more points in the Tweet:

1. This video is fake

2.  Such transactions are not possible

3. Each toll plaza has a unique code

A #viral Video claims that devices like watches are being used to swipe the #Fastag on vehicles, leading to fraudulent deduction of money from prepaid wallets.#PIBFactCheck:

▶️ This Video is #FAKE

▶️ Such transactions are not possible

▶️ Each Toll Plaza has a unique code pic.twitter.com/n7p01AXF4A

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) June 25, 2022