Hyderabad Police Commissioner Sajjanar has issued a high-priority warning via ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), urging citizens to remain vigilant against a new wave of cybercrimes targeting people looking to book cooking gas cylinders. Taking advantage of the current anxiety surrounding a potential gas shortage, cyber criminals are luring innocent victims by promising immediate delivery or additional cylinders through fraudulent online advertisements and social media posts.
The Commissioner highlighted that scammers are sending deceptive links through WhatsApp and SMS, directing users to fake websites. These “cyber-ketu-gallu” (scammers) often demand upfront online payments, claiming it as a guarantee for urgent supply. Sajjanar emphasized that any message promising “guaranteed emergency supply” in exchange for advance payment should be treated as a definitive red flag for a scam. He strictly advised the public not to click on suspicious links or share sensitive data like bank account details, OTPs, or UPI PINs with unknown individuals.
To stay safe, citizens are encouraged to use only the official websites of gas companies or authorized gas agencies for bookings and payments. If anyone falls victim to such financial fraud, they must immediately report the incident by calling the National Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930 or by lodging a complaint at http://cybercrime.gov.in. Acting quickly can significantly increase the chances of freezing the fraudulent transaction and recovering lost funds.
