Electricity bill scam: How to protect yourself against latest financial fraud, explains SBI

The State Bank of India (SBI) warned customers against falling prey to fraudulent messages about unpaid electricity bills. If you pay your electricity bill online, you must read about this latest scam.

Many users have been receiving messages on WhatsApp or via SMS from random numbers that say that their electricity connection will be suspended soon unless they immediately call a certain number.

The message reads: "Dear Customer Your Electricity power will be disconnected Tonight at 8.30 pm from electricity office. because your previous month bill was not update, please immediately contact with our electricity 8240471159 Thank you."

"Understand "YehWrongNumberHai"! Never call back or respond to such SMSs as these are a scam to steal your personal/financial information. Stay Alert and #SafeWithSBI," SBI wrote in a post on Twitter.

SBI has also mentioned a few ways to find out whether the SMS you are getting regarding your electricity bill is real or fake.

Firstly, you need to check whether the message has come from a personal phone number or an official number. The electricity board or supplier generally sends SMS from an official number.

Secondly, you must check if any message or person (calling from a random number) is asking you to take immediate action about your electricity bill payment. Fraudsters often create urgency or panic, so that individuals do not have much time to think.

Read the message carefully and you will find several spelling and grammatical errors, said SBI

The bank has asked the users to make safe choices and verify the source before taking any action, said SBI.