Beware! Imposters Claiming to be From Electric Company Attempting to Steal Your Funds

Paying bills and running errands are part of life. But what if one day you get a message from your state’s electricity board telling you that you have outstanding bills and that your connection will be disconnected soon unless you make an urgent payment? Well, this is exactly what has happened in the country and many users have received such messages asking them to pay their electricity bills. However, as you might guess, these messages are fake and designed to extort money from unsuspecting victims.

These scammers carefully craft these messages to make them look genuine and send them to users using phishing links that result in the scammer receiving money when payments are made through them.

These messages often mention a bill payment schedule that can cause anyone to panic, and it is this sense of urgency that makes people fall prey to this carefully planned scam. In addition, these messages often contain official-looking logos and fake designations, which can further deceive people.

To protect themselves from such scams, users must remain vigilant and follow the due diligence process before making rash decisions.

Follow these tips to stay safe:

• Always check your electricity board to see if you have any unpaid bills. You can easily do this online using your unique K-number.
• Avoid clicking on random links received via SMS or WhatsApp as these links may lead to websites that can steal your information.
• Keep your device up to date with the latest software available. If fraudsters try to exploit the vulnerability, the latest software allows the device manufacturer to release important updates that prevent such actions.
• Never disclose your personal details, bank IDs, OTPs or official identification details like Aadhar cards to anyone. Scammers can use this information to steal information and even your identity for later use in scams.
• Practice good digital hygiene and avoid installing apps from unknown sources, especially banking apps.
• If you come across or become a victim of such a scam, it is best to report it to the authorities and the concerned electricity authority. This not only benefits others, but also increases the chances of catching the scammers.