The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Bidhannagar police against unknown persons for allegedly trying to dupe its consumers by sending them fraudulent text messages saying their power supply would be disconnected in a few hours if the outstanding bill is not cleared immediately.
The WBSEDCL that caters to more than 2 crore consumers across the state had on Thursday launched a public awareness campaign against such fake text messages to alert its consumers about the possible fraud.
“The cyber cell of the Bidhannagar commissionerate has received the complaint. We are trying to create awareness among people to not fall into this trap,” said a senior officer of the Bidhannagar police commissionerate.
The Telegraph had reported on Thursday that the WBSEDCL has received at least 25 calls where their consumers across New Town, Salt Lake, North and South 24-Parganas have informed the company to have received such fraudulent text messages and sought help.
The police said the complaint lodged by the power utility mentions: “Of late it has come to the notice of WBSEDCL Management that consumers are receiving fake SMS on various pretext. For example, ‘Dear Customer, your electricity power will be disconnected tonight at 9.30 p.m. from the electricity office. Your monthly bill was not updated. Please call our electricity officer 9341097***. Thanks.’ It is herein clarified that WBSEDCL never sends such type of SMS. If there is any pending electricity bill, WBSEDCL sends notice with stipulated time only to the registered mobile number of the consumer from the company’s own ID.”
Officers of both Bidhannagar police and Kolkata police said they have received complaints of similar nature in their jurisdiction in the past few months.
“This is an organised racket. Mere tracking the phone number mentioned in such fake text messages is not always enough to track the offenders,” said an officer in the anti-bank fraud section of the Kolkata police.
“First, do not call back the unknown number. In case someone claims to be sending messages on behalf of the power utility office, contact the office,” said the officer.
The Telegraph had reported earlier this week, how two working professionals — one in Kasba and the other at East Jadavpur — had lost Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakh each while trying clear electricity dues.