Agartala: April 13: The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has alerted the public regarding a surge in cyber fraud cases involving the misuse of its name and identity. Fraudsters have been impersonating TSECL employees through fake messages and calls, coercing customers into paying alleged unpaid bills or downloading malicious applications, which then compromise their confidential banking information.
One such instance was reported in the Jogendranagar area of Agartala, where a family relying on solar electricity under the Prime Minister’s Suryaghar Yojana fell victim to this scam. They downloaded an app as instructed in a fraudulent message claiming to be from TSECL, resulting in financial loss.
TSECL has condemned these fraudulent practices, emphasizing that the corporation never contacts customers from unverified numbers or asks them to download unauthorized applications. It clarified that its official app, *BidyutBandhu*, is available only on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, and all messages from TSECL originate from verified sender IDs such as “TSECLI.”
To protect its customers, TSECL has issued guidelines advising them to:
– Steer clear of messages or calls from unknown numbers.
– Refrain from downloading APK files shared via WhatsApp, SMS, or email.
– Avoid sharing bank details or OTPs with strangers.
– Be alert to scammers posing as TSECL employees requesting payments or downloads under false pretenses.
Victims of such fraud are urged to report incidents to their nearest police station, the national cyber crime reporting portal ([www.cybercrime.gov.in](https://www.cybercrime.gov.in)), or contact 1930.
A TSECL spokesperson expressed concern, stating, “Customer safety is our priority. Awareness is crucial, and we encourage everyone to use only official platforms.” The corporation plans to launch state-wide awareness campaigns and partner with law enforcement agencies to tackle cyber fraud.
For legitimate services and information, customers can visit TSECL’s official websites at [www.tsecl.in](https://www.tsecl.in) and [www.bidyutbandhu.com](https://www.bidyutbandhu.com).
