Jaipur, March 19 The Rajasthan Police issued a public advisory on Thursday, warning citizens about cyber fraudsters exploiting the rising demand and potential shortage of LPG cylinders in the state.
Deputy Inspector General (Cyber Crime) Shantanu Kumar Singh said cyber criminals are targeting individuals through psychological pressure and technical manipulation.
The police have identified five primary methods used by fraudsters, including the creation of fake LPG booking websites to steal banking details, and calls from individuals posing as gas agency staff seeking KYC updates or OTPs.
Criminals are also using phishing links sent via SMS and WhatsApp, while others use screen-sharing applications like AnyDesk or TeamViewer to gain control of devices. In addition, fraudulent QR code payment requests have been reported.
The advisory stated that fraudsters often create a false sense of urgency by threatening to disconnect gas connections or suspend subsidies to trick victims into sharing confidential information.
The cyber crime branch has advised the public to use only official platforms for LPG bookings and to avoid making hurried decisions under pressure.
People are urged never to share bank details or OTPs, to refrain from installing screen-sharing apps at the request of unknown persons, and to verify payment details before transactions, it added.