Thiruvananthapuram, March 18 The Kerala police said on Wednesday that fraudsters are exploiting people's concerns about LPG cylinder shortages to deceive unsuspecting customers under the guise of booking gas.
The police said that cyber fraud gangs are becoming active in the state under the guise of carrying out gas bookings and updating bills, and taking advantage of the shortage of cylinders to trap consumers.
Detailing their modus operandi, the police said that first, a text message comes to the mobile phone, and then the fraudsters contact the customer via WhatsApp by sending a file named 'Gas Bill Update APK'.
The fraudsters ask customers to install the app to update gas booking information or pay any outstanding dues, they said.
However, as soon as the app is installed, the fraudsters gain complete control over the phone and are able to access the customer's bank information and UPI PIN numbers.
Subsequently, the customer loses money from their accounts without their knowledge, the police said.
They suggested cautionary measures that can be adopted to avoid being scammed, which include avoiding clicking on unfamiliar links or installing APK files received via WhatsApp or SMS under any circumstances.
"Only use the official websites or mobile apps of gas agencies for booking and payments," the police said.
They also advised people not to panic when they receive such urgent messages and to verify their authenticity by contacting their respective gas agencies.
The police also recommended not providing bank details or passwords on unfamiliar websites or apps.
"If you are a victim of cyber fraud, you should immediately register a complaint on the helpline number 1930 or through the portal www.cybercrime.gov.in," they said.