Hyderabad is facing a new challenge as cybercriminals are pretending to be from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). They are sending fake text messages to people, demanding quick payment of water bills.
These fraudsters scare people by threatening to cut off their water supply if the payment is not made right away. Many residents in the city have reported receiving these messages from numbers that look like official government contacts. The messages warn of unpaid water bills and provide a link for immediate payment, claiming the water will be disconnected that night if not paid.
A resident from the ECIL area experienced this firsthand. He received a text with a payment link and, worried about losing water service, clicked it. Soon after, he got a call from someone speaking Hindi, asking for personal and bank information. Realizing it was suspicious, he ended the call.
According to cybercrime officials, these fraudulent links lead victims to fake payment sites that resemble the real HMWSSB website. The victims are tricked into entering their bank or card details, which the scammers then use to steal money from their accounts.
