What Happened?
Cyberabad Police have issued a warning about scammers impersonating water board officials and contacting residents under the pretext of bill verification or account updates.
Victims are typically contacted through phone calls, SMS messages, or WhatsApp and are told that their water connection may be suspended unless they complete a verification process or make a small payment.
How the Scam Works
Scammers pretend to represent the local water board and claim there is an issue with a customer’s account, billing information, or payment status.
Victims are then asked to click a link, install an application, or make a small verification payment. In some cases, fraudsters encourage users to install remote-access applications, allowing criminals to gain access to banking apps, personal information, and financial accounts.
Warning Signs
• Unexpected calls or messages claiming to be from a utility provider
• Threats of water service disconnection or account suspension
• Requests to install applications sent via WhatsApp or SMS
• Demands for immediate payment to verify an account
• Links that do not belong to official utility websites
• Requests for banking details, OTPs, or screen-sharing access
How to Stay Safe
Always verify billing issues directly through the official website, mobile app, or customer service channels of your utility provider.
Never install applications from links received through SMS or WhatsApp, and never share OTPs, banking credentials, or remote access to your device with unknown callers.
If you receive a suspicious message about your utility account, contact the utility provider directly using contact details obtained from official sources. Or use the free tools on this website to check messages you receive or links you receive for free.
Source
Original reporting by The420.in based on a public warning issued by Cyberabad Police regarding utility bill verification scams.