Scam Alert: If You Have a High-Pressure Gas Pipeline Connection, Read This News

In Gwalior, a woman was duped of over ₹2.62 lakhs by scammers posing as representatives from a gas company. The incident highlights the growing threat of fraud related to utility payments and serves as a warning for those with high-pressure gas pipeline connections.

Priyanka Sharma, a resident of Dindayal Nagar in Gwalior, had a high-pressure gas pipeline connection from Avantika Gas Limited. She regularly paid her bills on time. However, in July, she received a message from the scammers on her WhatsApp. The message claimed that her connection would be cut off due to non-payment and urged her to contact a provided number to avoid further issues.

When Priyanka called the number, she was informed that her bill payment details needed to be updated. The scammers convinced her to download an APK file via a link they sent. Believing the message to be legitimate, Priyanka downloaded the file. Soon after, the scammers accessed her bank account and withdrew ₹2.62 lakhs.

Realizing she had been scammed only after her account was drained, Priyanka promptly reported the incident to the Gwalior Crime Branch. The police have since registered a case against the unidentified scammers under charges of fraud and violations of the IT Act. An investigation is underway to track down the culprits.

This incident underscores the importance of verifying the authenticity of any communications regarding utility payments and being cautious about downloading files from unknown sources.