Chennai: Did You Receive 'Your Electricity Power Will Be Disconnected Tonight' Message? It's Scam

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has issued a warning to the public regarding a scam targeting electricity consumers. Fraudsters are sending messages that falsely threaten to disconnect power unless outstanding bills are paid immediately.

In a post on X, TANGEDCO advised, "Stay alert! 🚨 If you receive a message about an impending power disconnection, don't panic. Check your bill status directly in the TANGEDCO app or website. Avoid responding to suspicious texts or calls, and report any scam attempts to 1930 immediately!"

The scam message reads: "Dear Customer, it has come to our notice that you have not paid your electricity bill, so your electricity power will be disconnected tonight at 10:30 pm. Please call 9XXXXXXXXXX immediately to resolve. Thank you." Such messages typically contain a phone number, luring people to respond urgently.

In today's digital landscape, scammers are finding increasingly deceptive ways to target individuals, often through SMS or WhatsApp messages containing malicious links. Clicking these links can compromise personal information and even lead to financial loss.

A troubling trend in scams includes the emergence of "digital arrest" threats. In these cases, callers impersonate law enforcement officials, such as officers from the CBI, and accuse the victim of involvement in serious crimes like money laundering. They then demand immediate compliance, using threats of imminent arrest warrants. One notable victim, S.P. Oswal, chairman of the Vardhman Group, was recently targeted in such a scam by fraudsters posing as CBI officials.

As scams grow more sophisticated, TANGEDCO's alert is a reminder to remain vigilant, avoid engaging with unknown contacts, and report any suspected fraud to authorities immediately.