Electricity bill payment scam: A single click could lead to phone hacking

A new scam has emerged recently, and scammers are using text messages to trick people into paying fake electricity bills and compromising their phones. The message claims that your electricity bill is unpaid and that immediate payment is required to avoid a power cut. Scammers exploit fear to make you click on a link within the message. To protect yourself, follow these steps:

1. Verify the Source First: Before taking any action, verify the source of the message. For online payment of electricity bills, always use the official website or application of your electricity provider. Avoid clicking on links sent via text messages.
2. Keep a Check on URLs: Be cautious about the URLs in the text message. Only click on links that start with ‘https://’ and have a lock icon at the beginning of the URL after you open the site. This lock symbol indicates a secure connection. Scammers often use unsecured websites to steal your information.
3. Verify Sender and Payment Requests: Double-check the sender’s information and the authenticity of any payment requests. Scammers often use convincing tactics to make you believe their messages are legitimate. If something seems off, don’t proceed with the payment.
4. Confirm Customer Support Contacts: If you have any doubts or questions regarding your electricity bill or payments, always verify that you are communicating with the official customer support channels of your electricity provider. Scammers may provide fake customer support contact information to further deceive you.
5. Use Official Payment Apps: When making payments, only download and use payment applications from official and verified app stores. Avoid downloading payment apps from unofficial sources, as they may be malicious and used to steal your financial information.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed:

If you believe you’ve fallen victim to this electricity bill scam, take these steps to minimize damage and prevent further losses:

1. Contact UPI Application Support: If you made the payment using a UPI (Unified Payments Interface) application like Phone Pe, Google Pay, or PayTM, reach out to the application’s support team. Navigate to the help section of the app and select the “have an issue with the transaction” option. Inform them about the scam and any details you have.
2. Customer Support Assistance: You can also contact the customer support of the UPI payments app you used to report the issue. They will guide you on the necessary steps to address the situation and possibly recover your lost funds.

You might also be intersted in – Meet the man who developed a wind turbine capable of providing electricity and drinkable water