The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has registered a criminal case against users of six phone numbers following a complaint from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). The complaint concerns fraudulent WhatsApp messages being circulated to water board consumers across the city, with scammers impersonating official representatives of the board.
Multiple consumers have reportedly lost money after falling victim to the scam. The fraudsters send threatening messages claiming that monthly water bills remain unpaid and warn recipients about imminent disconnection of water supply. The scammers then trick victims into installing malicious APK files on their mobile devices, which compromises their personal and financial information.
On Tuesday evening, K Venkatakrishna, who serves as deputy general manager (engineering) in the electronic data processing wing of HMWSSB, filed a formal complaint at the TGCSB Headquarters police station. The complaint highlighted how consumers throughout Hyderabad were receiving fake water-disconnection notices through WhatsApp messages that directed them to unauthorized mobile numbers.
The water board official revealed that this was not the first time such a complaint had been lodged. Despite an earlier complaint filed with the cyber crime bureau, the fraudulent activities have continued unabated. The board has since collected additional information about the ongoing scam and has requested a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
In the complaint, the official requested authorities to investigate the complete modus operandi used by the perpetrators. The probe should also examine the source and extent of unauthorized access to consumer information, how such sensitive data is being obtained, and whether any organized network is involved in the acquisition, misuse, and circulation of customer data.
The complainant emphasized the urgent nature of the investigation, citing the continued fraud and its potential impact on both consumers and the reputation of HMWSSB. As supporting evidence, the water board provided 10 examples of cases where fraudsters either successfully duped victims or attempted to do so by posing as HMWSSB representatives. The complaint also included six phone numbers belonging to suspected fraudsters for verification purposes.
Based on the complaint, TGCSB has registered a case under multiple sections of Indian law. The case has been filed under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, and cheating by personation respectively. Additionally, Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act has been invoked in the case.
The incident raises serious concerns about data security and the protection of consumer information held by public utility organizations. The investigation is expected to focus on identifying how fraudsters gained access to customer details and whether there are any gaps in the water board’s data protection systems that enabled this breach.
