Fake Electricity Bill Scams — "Power Cut Tonight" Threats
The threat of losing power tonight is designed to make you skip every normal check you'd otherwise do before paying a bill.
What this scam looks like
You receive an SMS or WhatsApp message, often appearing to be from your electricity board, warning that your power will be disconnected tonight due to an unpaid or unupdated bill. It includes a link or a number to call. Calling connects you to a "customer care agent" who asks you to install a screen-sharing app or pay through a link — both leading to the same outcome as other UPI fraud: money leaving your account.
Why it works
Almost everyone has an electricity connection, so the message applies broadly, and the threat of an immediate power cut creates urgency that discourages people from pausing to verify. This scam often specifically targets people less familiar with checking bills online, including elderly relatives who may not have easy access to their board's official portal or app.
Red flags to watch for
- SMS or WhatsApp messages threatening same-day disconnection
- A payment link or phone number that isn't from your state electricity board's official channels
- Any request to install a screen-sharing app to "process" the bill payment
- Messages with your name missing or generic ("Dear Customer") rather than your actual registered name
How to protect yourself
Check your actual bill status only through your electricity board's official app, website, or by calling the number printed on a past physical bill — never a number or link from an unsolicited message. Genuine electricity boards do not typically threaten same-day disconnection via SMS with an embedded payment link.
If this has already happened to you
Follow the steps on our "I've Been Scammed" page right away.
This article is general awareness information, not legal advice. See our disclaimer for details.