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Instead of providing ease of life, technology is becoming a disruptor and throwing more challenges at ordinary people every day. Uninterrupted electricity supply is crucial to all our lives today. So, fraudsters have found this a perfect weakness to exploit by threatening a power cut on the fake claim that a bill is unpaid. The message with the threat helpfully has the number of an 'electricity officer' or an app to be downloaded to make things right. This fraud is rampant because people instinctively call the number and get lured into providing more details. We will also see how criminals created over 10,000 polymer fingerprints using Aadhaar data to withdraw Rs14.64 lakh from bank accounts linked to Aadhaar. Electricity Bill Scam Messages
Many people are receiving messages through SMS or on WhatsApp about paying their dues for electricity supply, failing which the power will be cut by 9.30pm. In today's interconnected world, the disconnection of electric power supply is sure to create panic for a customer.
While these messages started appearing a few months ago in north-eastern states, they are now doing the rounds across the country. Interestingly, none mentions the name of the electric power supplier; they are sent from mobile numbers and not from the authentic SMS header used by the electricity company. Yet, SMS threatens to disconnect the power supply of the customer.
There are a few versions of this message floating around, but people are quick to assume it is an official message from the electricity distributor. On calling the number in the message, they are asked to download a computer sharing app like AnyDesk. Once the victim does this, the 'electricity officer' asks for a passcode to access your mobile. He then asks to make an online payment of dues. Since he has access to your computer screen and is recording what you do, he gets all the information you are keying in to access your account and uses it to siphon off money.