Electricity Bill Disconnection Scam by SMS

How it looks by SMS, the red flags and what to do.

A text message is the cheapest way for a scammer to reach thousands of phones at once, and the sender name can look like a bank, a courier or a government office. Electricity Bill Disconnection Scam is one of the ways this shows up: A message says your electricity will be cut tonight for an unpaid bill, and tells you to pay through a number, link or app to avoid it.

What electricity bill disconnection scam looks like by SMS

• A sender name that resembles a bank, courier, tax or utility, or an ordinary mobile number.
• A very short message with a deadline such as "today" or "within 24 hours".
• A shortened or oddly spelled link that does not match the real website.

The scammer sends the same message to thousands of numbers, using the name of a local electricity board or a common power company. It includes a time that is only a few hours away and a request to contact an officer. The message looks short and official, with a customer ID that is just a few random digits.

Red flags to check on the text message

• The message gives a disconnection time within hours.
• A private mobile number is given for an 'officer'.
• You are told to install an app or tap a link to update the bill.
• A small payment is requested to 'activate' the update.
• The message asks for an OTP, PIN, card number or password.
• It threatens blocking, arrest, disconnection or a fine unless you act at once.

What to do

1. Do not call the number or tap the link in the message.
2. Look at your last paid bill and payment history in the official app or website you type yourself.
3. Call the electricity board using the number on your bill if you need help.
4. Do not reply, do not tap the link and do not call the number in the message.
5. Open the official app or type the official website yourself to see if there is any real notice.
6. Paste the text into a scam checker (Safeavio Sentinel can check it) before you do anything else.

You can report suspicious SMS and calls on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) of the Department of Telecommunications.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Call 1930 at once and give the amount and time of the payment.
2. Tell your bank using the number on your card or passbook.
3. Remove any app installed on the caller's advice and change banking passwords.
4. Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in with the message and screenshots.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Safeavio's scam check can review the message you paste and show why it looks like urgency and fake authority, and the link check looks at the link before you open it. If an app was installed, the phone scan can point out apps outside a store. It cannot tell whether your bill is paid, so check your last bill or the official app.

Full guide: Electricity Bill Disconnection Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: WhatsApp, phone call, fake app.

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