While the conflict in West Asia has triggered concerns over the supply of energy, cybercriminals in Mumbai have used the situation to their advantage in terms of heavy monetary gains.
Cashing in on the panic caused by the conflict over LPG shortage, fraudsters have scammed more than 100 customers of the city-based Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) of nearly Rs 3 crore in just 30 days by misleading them into downloading harmful APK files that gave the scammers remote access to their mobile phones and allowed them to steal banking data, said a first information report, the Times of India reported.
Also read: India’s LPG consumption drops 13% in March as West Asia conflict disrupts supply
Even people from Karnataka have been found among the victims, who are aged between the 20s and the 80s. They include teachers, businessmen, senior citizens, drivers, and domestic helps, among others.
In March, a woman in her 60s from Udupi, Karnataka, fell victim to cyber fraud, resulting in a loss of around Rs 9.78 lakh. This happened after husband was deceived by a fraudulent gas bill scheme, which also led to the download of a harmful APK file that exposed their banking information.
Fake bills, real money gone
Several victims received messages warning that their gas connections would be “disconnected tonight” unless they paid their pending bills immediately. The fraudsters targeted MGL customers in Mumbai and Karnataka, creating a false sense of urgency to trigger panic payments.
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Downloading malicious APK files
Victims were tricked into downloading an unknown APK file, giving cybercriminals remote access to their mobile phones. The fraudsters stole banking credentials and syphoned off funds swiftly. People seeking new gas connections were also targeted through fraudulent calls and links to fake apps.
Free gas offer adds to confusion
The scam coincided with an MGL announcement that all new domestic piped natural gas registrations between March 16 and April 30 would receive free gas worth Rs 500, along with a Rs 1,000 bill adjustment for customers in new buildings with over 60 per cent penetration. The offer had likely made the fraudulent messages appear more credible to unsuspecting recipients.
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Digital fraud continues to surge despite sustained awareness campaigns by authorities, pointing to a persistent gap between public advisories and ground-level digital literacy.
Hormuz stalemate continues
The broader crisis that fed these anxieties shows no signs of easing. Tehran has re-blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, after a brief reopening, while the US continues to bar Iran’s oil exports. Scores of commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the strait and the nearby Persian Gulf since the war broke out on February 28, keeping supply chain disruptions persisting.
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