Bhubaneswar, March 18: The Odisha police have issued a strong warning to citizens, urging them to stay vigilant against cyber fraudsters exploiting public concerns over the ongoing LPG cylinder shortage, which is being fueled by the West Asia conflict.
Authorities have reported that scammers are using fraudulent tactics, including suspicious links and phone calls posing as gas agency representatives, to deceive people into sharing sensitive personal and financial information.
“While we have not received specific complaints, we have identified fraudulent messages related to LPG availability,” stated Crime Branch SP Smit Parmar.
As speculation around LPG shortages intensifies, the police's timely warning aims to protect the public from falling victim to scams. Cyber criminals are leveraging rumors about LPG scarcity to lure unsuspecting users into dangerous interactions. Victims may be tricked into clicking on harmful links or downloading malicious files, which could jeopardize their personal and banking information.
“These fraudsters may claim that immediate verification or registration is needed to secure an LPG cylinder, urging victims to engage with dangerous content,” explained SP Parmar.
The police specifically warned citizens not to open or download files with the “.apk” extension, as these Android Application Package files can install harmful apps on mobile phones. These apps can give fraudsters access to private data, such as passwords, banking details, and one-time passwords (OTPs).
“Such breaches can result in significant financial losses as scammers drain money from compromised accounts. We urge citizens to verify information only through official gas agency channels and refrain from sharing personal or financial details with unfamiliar callers,” Parmar added.
Authorities also reminded the public to report any suspicious activity, whether calls, messages, or links, immediately to the cybercrime helpline (1930) or the nearest police station.
In a statement on X, police officials highlighted the importance of cyber safety during times of widespread concern. “Do not click on unknown links and report any suspicious activity immediately. Prevention is the best defense against digital fraud,” emphasized SP Parmar.
