Pune: MSEDCL Requests Citizens To Not Pay Heed To Fake Messages Regarding Electricity Bill
Siddhi Dharmadhikari
Pune, 26th December 2022: For the last few days, there has been a huge increase in fake messages being sent to citizens through SMS and WhatsApp from personal mobile numbers. Citizens should not trust fake messages or calls from personal numbers under any circumstances.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has also appealed not to open any online link or download any software sent to pay the amount from the personal number.
Mahadiscom mobile app and website www.mahadiscom.in are available for customers to pay electricity bills securely.
Many citizens from areas such as Kalyani Nagar, Dhanori, Vishrantwadi, Nagar Road, and others have received fake messages. Fake SMS or WhatsApp messages are being sent saying, “Electricity supply will be disconnected at 9.30 pm tonight due to non-update of last month’s electricity bill. Please contact the personal mobile number provided immediately.” Mobile calls are also being made.
The fake message is being sent to citizens who do have not any connection to pay the electricity bills or to electricity consumers whose electricity bills have already been paid.
After unwary citizens respond to these fake messages or calls, it is observed that they are being asked to pay their electricity bill only ‘online’, they are also asked to pay the payment on the link sent to them from their mobile number or downloading software; which hack mobile or computer. If the citizens respond to these fake messages, the balance in the respective bank account is withdrawn by hacking the mobile or computer.
No such SMS and WhatsApp messages are sent by MSEDCL from any personal mobile number. So only those customers who have registered their mobile number along with the customer number are sent SMS through the computerized system.
“Sender ID of this message is VM-MSEDCL, VK-MSEDCL, AM-MSEDCL, JM-MSEDCL. Also, through this official message, electricity consumers are not informed about contacting any individual mobile number. It is not asked to share bank OTP or download any kind of software.”
Also, it has been clarified by MSEDCL that WhatsApp messages are not sent from personal numbers.
Only SMS are sent by MSEDCL through an authorized sender ID. “These include pre-planned maintenance and repairs, the probable time required to restore electricity supply in case of interruption of power supply due to technical or other reasons, amount of electricity bills per month, appeal to customers to submit meter readings themselves, date of meter reading and a total number of units used, amount of electricity bill, due date, Notice of power supply interruption is duly sent.”
“However, at present the SMS, WhatsApp messages, and mobile calls sent to citizens from personal mobile numbers are fake. No response should be given to it. Do not open any link or download any software for bill payment.”
MSEDCL appeals to citizens to not contact the personal mobile number mentioned in the fake message. In case of any doubts or complaints, electricity consumers are advised to contact the toll-free number 1912, 18002123435, or 18002333435, or the nearest office, which is open 24 hours.
Join Punekar News Whatsapp Group, Telegram, Instagram And Twitter For Regular Update about Pune City And Pimpri-Chinchwad
