State-owned oil marketing companies have alerted consumers about a surge in LPG delivery scams. Fraudsters are posing as official gas delivery services to deceive customers into sharing One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and Delivery Authentication Codes (DACs). The scams involve fake SMS and WhatsApp messages that mimic genuine delivery notifications to trick consumers.
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Indian Oil Corporation, and Bharat Petroleum have issued warnings on social media regarding cyber fraud aimed at domestic LPG users. Scammers often pretend to be gas agency representatives, asking for KYC updates or Aadhaar linking to prevent gas disconnection. They then request OTPs to “verify” these requests.
HPCL emphasized that authentic delivery messages will be sent from the sender name ‘VM-HPGASc-S,’ include a four-digit OTP, and are only required during cylinder delivery. The company stated that HP Gas personnel will never request OTPs via phone calls, WhatsApp messages, or suspicious links. Customers were advised not to trust urgent or unfamiliar messages that deviate from the official format.
Similarly, Indian Oil advised customers to share their 6-digit DAC exclusively with Indane delivery staff after they arrive at the doorstep. BPCL reiterated the importance of sharing OTPs only during the actual delivery to ensure consumer safety. The oil corporations recommended using their official applications like IndianOil One, HPPay, or Hello BPCL for booking cylinders or updating information. Consumers were also cautioned about communications from personal mobile numbers via WhatsApp and were urged to be cautious.
In case consumers mistakenly disclose information or lose money, they were instructed to contact the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 within the “golden hour” to enhance the chances of freezing stolen funds.
