Cyber cheats now targeting power users

If you receive a text message asking you to pay by a certain deadline or electricity supply will be cut, beware, it might be online fraud. Alarmed by increasing complaints of cyber frauds, electricity distribution companies have asked their consumers to not respond to calls made by purported executives, text messages, emails and avoid downloading apps using links.

Mumbai's Adani Electricity, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and state-owned Mahadiscom have issued alerts, citing complaints from their consumers. Recently, several consumers reported a fishy text message which says the electricity connection will be cut by a certain deadline if the dues are not paid. The messages give individual telephone numbers of officers for contacting, and they then demand payment through a web link or mobile app.

The three electricity distribution companies in Mumbai have all warned their customers. File pic

"It has come to our notice that several cases of online frauds are duping unsuspecting citizens. The fraudsters pose as call centre executives of electricity distribution companies and/or send fake offers through SMS/email asking consumers to download mobile apps or click on fraudulent links. After which the fraudsters hijack personal information including bank details to carry out fraudulent transactions on bank accounts," Adani Electricity said in a statement.

Early this year, a fraudster was arrested by the Mumbai cyber police for creating a fake website of Mahadiscom (MSEDCL). Based in Jharkhand, the accused sent bulk messages to consumers to pay up using the payment link or face power cuts. He had collected around Rs 65,000 before getting nabbed.

A company spokesperson said a consumer in Pune was forced to pay Rs 22,000 after receiving a text message. "Mahadiscom never sends bulk messages. Only registered consumers get messages from sender IDs - VM-MSEDCL, VK-MSEDCL. We don't share individual telephone numbers of our officers. We share information about repairing schedules, monthly bill amount, meter reading and proper notice for disconnecting the defaulters' supply," said a company spokesperson, adding that if consumers download the app, the fraudsters can steal whatever money they have in their bank accounts.

BEST has asked its consumers to use company-provided secured payment gateways. It has sent consumers a bulk message saying it always sends SMS from "BESTSM" and not from any mobile number. "If you receive billing or disconnection SMS from a number other than ‘BESTSM' asking you to contact, please do not respond to it. It may be a fraudulent SMS prompting you to make online transactions for payment of bills," reads a message from the BEST.