A YOUNG man was robbed, sexually assaulted and had all 10 fingers broken after his car was stopped on a New South Wales freeway by a man claiming to be a police officer.

The 22-year-old was driving on the F3 through Tuggerah, on the NSW central coast, about 11pm (AEDT) on Saturday night when a car signalled with its headlights for him to pull over.

He was forced into the passenger seat of his car by one of the men before being taken to another area where he was robbed, bashed and sexually assaulted, Detective Inspector Julie Hill, of The Entrance police, said.

The victim was then taken to Foreshore Reserve at Canton Beach where he was released by his attackers, who drove off in his 1993-model silver Corolla sedan.

"The 22-year-old man has significant facial injuries to the point where he is going to need surgical rectification, he's got major damage to his teeth and he has 10 broken fingers," Insp Hill said.

"Since our appeal has gone out in the media we have received information about similar type instances where vehicles have had headlights flashed at them and attempts have been made to stop vehicles," he said.

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