Buying a Highway Vignette: How to Avoid Scammers

Purchasing a Czech highway toll sticker seems like a simple process; however, if you're not careful, you might easily end up paying more money than necessary.

Unofficial Websites Charging Extra Fees

As highlighted by the Ministry of Transport  on its website, numerous unofficial websites have appeared online, selling Czech highway toll stickers at a surcharge.

These unofficial reseller websites look very convincing and try to persuade visitors to purchase the toll sticker through their system.

First Example. An unofficial reseller operates under the domain digitalnidalnicniznamka.cz. The design appears trustworthy, and the form for entering parameters looks standard. However, there are two main issues. The first is the price. The operator of this website charges CZK 410 for a one-day toll sticker, whereas the standard price is CZK 210. The second issue is that there is no guarantee that you will actually receive the electronic toll sticker even after payment.

Second Example. Another unofficial website operates under the domain elektronicka-dalnicni-znamka.cz, and its design closely resembles the official website of the Ministry of Transport. It is important to check the price at which the toll stickers are sold. This reseller charges CZK 390 for a one-day toll sticker, justifying the extra "service fee" of CZK 180 on top of the standard price of CZK 210.

This fee is charged only by unofficial resellers. The Ministry of Transport does not charge any such fee.

Third Example is very similar to the previous ones. A website under the seemingly legitimate domain dalnicniznamka.cz also charges an "ecological fee", adding CZK 70 extra for a one-day toll sticker (see below).

The website claims that "one tree is planted for every toll sticker sold." However, no further details are provided. There is also a notice on the website stating that if you disagree with the fee, you should contact the official distributor.

A list of unofficial or fraudulent e-shops has been published by the Ministry of Transport on its website .

Beware of Search Engine Results!

Do not rely on search engine results when looking for a toll sticker by searching for terms like "highway toll sticker." The first result is not necessarily the official website.

As shown in the example below, the first two links lead to unofficial websites, where you are very likely to pay more than necessary.

How to Recognize the Official Purchase Website?

The only official websites operated by the Ministry of Transport are edalnice.cz  and edalnice.gov.cz . Always check the website address in your browser and verify other site details before making a purchase.

Fraudulent SMS Messages Demanding Payment for a Fake Fine

The Ministry of Transport has also warned  about a type of fraudulent SMS scam that emerged in March this year (see image below). The message urges the recipient to pay a fine for allegedly driving without a valid highway toll sticker.

This is a scam, and it is strongly advised not to click on the link in the message.

Final Recommendations for Your Safety

1. How to easily and effectively enhance cybersecurity in your company? Learn how Redamp.io  can help protect you.

2. Stay informed! Read our blog  and follow notifications in the Redamp.io app to stay updated on the latest threats we monitor for you.

3. Be cautious! Pay special attention to:

   • phishing  (fraudulent emails),
   • smishing  (fraudulent SMS messages),
   • vishing  (fraudulent phone calls),
   • quishing  (fraudulent QR codes),
   • and ransomware  (extortion software).