To stop the growing cyber threat, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed to block 392 mobile handsets across India. These handsets were identified as being used in the electricity KYC update scam.
To carry out this scam, fraudsters contact people via SMS and WhatsApp posing as electricity department officials. In these messages, users are asked to update their KYC (Know Your Customer) details. If this is not done, the electricity of the house will be disconnected.
These messages usually contain a dangerous link asking for personal information. Fraudsters misuse this information for financial fraud. This action by the Department of Telecommunications has come after an increase in complaints received through the ‘Chakshu’ platform. ‘Chakshu’ is a government initiative that allows citizens to report suspected fraudulent communications.
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Acting on these reports, the Department of Telecommunications used AI-powered analysis on the ‘Chakshu’ portal to identify a network of fraudulent activity. This analysis revealed a connection between 392 mobile handsets involved in the scam and over 31,740 mobile numbers. Based on these findings, the Department of Telecommunications asked telecommunications companies to block the identified mobile numbers and handsets across the country.
How to stay safe from Electricity KYC Update Scam:
- Do not click on any suspicious link or download attachment coming in the name of Electricity Department.
- Never share your bank details, OTPs or account numbers with anyone over text messages.
- If you have any doubts about the message, contact the electricity department through their official website or phone number.
- To keep your electricity account safe, use strong passwords and use two-factor authentication.
