New electricity bill scam targets Hyderabad consumers with fake pending bills

Hyderabad: A new scam targeting electricity consumers in Hyderabad has surfaced, where fraudsters send fake messages, claiming their power supply will be cut off due to unpaid bills.

The fake message asks the recipients to call or send a message to a number on WhatsApp, a messaging platform, to make payment for their pending bills.

The scam message reads, “Dear sir, your power supply will be cut today after 7:30 PM due to last month’s bill not being updated. Call immediately on WhatsApp number (redacted).”

Here’s the modus operandi of scammers.

When a worried consumer calls the given number to sort out the pending bill issue, the scammers ask the caller to share his or her debit or credit card details to process the payment. Sometimes, these fraudsters send suspicious payment links and the consumers are instructed to enter their banking credentials and consequently, the targeted consumer loses his or her money due to the unauthorised withdrawal from the scammer’s end.

Here’s how to save yourself from the latest electricity bill scam.

1) You need to check whether the message has come from a personal phone number or an official number. The electricity board or supplier generally sends SMS from an official number.

It is pertinent to note that the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) does not send messages from personal mobile numbers.

2) Check if any message or person (calling from a random number) is asking you to take immediate action about your electricity bill payment. Fraudsters often create urgency or panic, so that individuals do not have much time to think.

3) Read the message carefully and you will find several spelling and grammatical errors.

4) You can find the official contact details of TGSPDCL in your previous electricity bills. Text message scams, also known as smishing, are one of the most popular tricks scammers use to steal personal information and money.