Amid growing concerns over LPG supply in the country, a new online scam is spreading rapidly. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C)—through its CyberDost initiative—has issued an alert about this threat. Taking advantage of people’s fear and haste, scammers are duping them on the pretext of fake LPG booking. This scam is being done so cleverly that common users are not able to differentiate between real and fake. The government has clearly said that by taking a little precaution, one can avoid huge financial losses. In a post on
How the network of LPG booking scam is spreading
LPG booking scam is being spread at a time when people need gas cylinders the most. Scammers send messages through SMS, WhatsApp and social media, claiming that there is an acute shortage of gas and if booking is not done immediately, the user will not get the cylinder. Apart from creating fear, such messages also lure with discount offers. The user is sent a link that looks exactly like the real website. As a result, people trust that link and click on it. As soon as a user visits that link, they’re asked to provide payment information or personal information—and that’s where the fraud begins.
Clicking on the link may empty your bank account
The moment a user clicks on the fraudulent link, he or she is asked to make a payment—ostensibly for LPG booking—or to enter their OTP, ATM PIN and bank account details. In many cases, the user is also instructed to scan the QR code. As soon as the user shares this information, money is withdrawn from his bank account. After this, neither any booking process takes place, nor any gas cylinder is delivered. This entire conspiracy is hatched only to steal user data and money. Therefore, it is extremely important to stay away from any unknown links, APK files or QR codes; Otherwise, even a small mistake can cause huge financial loss.
Government advice: how to protect yourself from dangerous scams
The government has taken several important precautions to protect people from becoming victims of such scams. First and foremost, always book your gas cylinders only through official platforms—like Indane, HP Gas, or Bharat Gas websites or mobile apps. Avoid clicking on any unknown links, and make sure you download apps only from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Never share your OTP, PIN, or banking information with anyone. If you receive a message that seems suspicious, contact your gas agency directly. A little caution can prove to be very helpful in protecting you from this big cyber fraud.