Recent reports have shown a dangerous scam has emerged, putting innocent people at risk. Scammers are using a sneaky method to trick people into paying fake electricity bills. They hack into phones and send text messages, pretending to be from the electricity department. These messages claim that the recipient’s electricity bill is unpaid and threaten to cut off their power unless they pay immediately.

Here are some of the steps you can follow to stay safe from these scammers:

  1. Verify the Source: Only use official websites and apps provided by genuine electricity providers for online bill payments.
  2. Check URLs: Before making any online payment, ensure the website’s URL starts with “https://” and has a padlock symbol, indicating a secure connection.
  3. Verify Payment Requests: Double-check payment requests and sender information. Be cautious of urgent payment demands or suspicious messages.
  4. Use Official Apps: Download UPI (Unified Payments Interface) apps from trusted sources like official app stores.

If you fall victim to this scam, act fast:

  1. UPI Payment Apps: If you suspect fraud, go to the Help section of UPI payment apps like Phone Pe, Google Pay, Paytm, and others. Report the issue under “have an issue with the transaction.”
  2. Customer Care Number: Contact the customer care number of UPI payment apps to report the problem. Customer service will assist you in raising a ticket and resolving the issue.
  3. Webform Submission: Use PhonePe’s webform to report the scam incident and raise a ticket.
  4. Social Media Reporting: Report fraudulent incidents through PhonePe’s official Twitter and Facebook handles.
  5. Grievance Reporting: If you have a previous complaint, log in and share the ticket ID to report a grievance.
  6. Cyber Crime Cell: If all else fails, report the fraud to the nearest Cyber Crime cell or file a complaint online at [official website]. You can also call the Cyber Crime Cell helpline at 1930 for help.

Remember, be vigilant and follow these steps to protect yourself from falling victim to scams. Stay safe while paying your electricity bills online!