Bill-related SMS in phones fake: WBSEDCL

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, SILIGURI, 19 JUNE 2022: The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company limited (WBSEDCL) has started a campaign to make consumers aware of fraudulent

message sent on their mobile phones on various pretexts. Officials said that it has come to their notice that consumers were receiving fake text messages on their phones, asking them to pay their bills, else the power supply would be disconnected.

According to the WBSEDCLs north Bengal zonal manager Mriganka Mouli De, they had launched the campaign by publishing advertisements in newspapers. "The WBSEDCL has taken the onus to create awareness among the people so that they do not get trapped by fraudsters. Our focus is to make people alert. We, so far, have not come across an incident where consumers have been duped in the north Bengal zone," Mr De said.

The zone covers seven north Bengal districts of Darjeeling Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur, except MaIda, with around 32 lakh customers.

The campaign reads 'Beware of FAKE-SMS*--"Of late, it has come to the notice of WBSEDCL management that Consumers are receiving Fake SMS on various pretexts. It is herein clarified that WBSEDCL never sends such type of SMS. If there is any pending electricity bill, WBSEDCL sends notice with stipulated time only to the registered mobile number of the Consumer from its own ID. It is our earnest plea to the Consumers not to fall prey to these FAKE SMS. For any assistance/clarification, consumers may contact the nearest customer care centre."

"The power bill for three months is generated quarterly with the separate due date in each month. The WBSEDCL does not send such text messages to consumers, telling them that the power supply would be disconnected," an official said.

According to a school teacher in Siliguri, she had recently received such a message. "I received two messages on my WhatsApp from an unknown number, saying that my electric bill was pending and that the connection would be disconnected if I did not pay. I dialed the number and the person on the other end told me that I had not paid the bill, and requested me to make it up to date. I said I would talk to the WBSEDCL over the issue, but they insisted me to download an App. I did not pay heed to that. I immediately checked and sent the up to date bill receipt on the same WhatsApp number," she said.

"But to cross check, I was thinking how the power department would send me such messages from a personal phone number. I called the local power supply office and they told me that the department never sends such messages and they give time to customers to pay their dues."

Ed: In Kalimpong WhatsApp messages are received from 8345090150