Illustrations: Sateesh Velalinezhi
On Sunday (October 5, 2025) in the afternoon, the Indian Oil (IOA) Customer Gas Project (IOA) in Vennala received a WhatsApp warning at Kochi Corporation, warning of the service. The message also contained the contact number.
Anxiety customer called the number but the call was disconnected. This was followed by a call of WhatsApp from a man -speaking smooth Hindi man who ordered the customer to clean up the account through the IOA application and the portal using the card. However, all attempts failed. Then he started the WhatsApp video call, although the customer could not see him.
“Then he asked me to send a picture of the rear part of my card showing the number of CVV I refused. Instead, I shared the grid number on the back of my card. I immediately received OTP for online payment £ 90,000.
It has now been shown that the city gas project is rapidly expanding across the limits of corporation, it seems that fraudsters are focusing on it. Many customers have accepted similar fraudulent calls, some even lost money by sharing OTP or by clicking on malicious links sent via WhatsApp. The project is currently active in at least six divisions within the corporation.
“We have received a number of complaints from customers. I issued alert through broadcast reports of our local WhatsApp groups and urged people to remain vigilant and qualified,” said CD Valsalakumari, councilor Vennala.
IOA authorities said they knew about this problem and have already warned customers, even through the announcement on their portal. “We make a point billing and provide customers a printed copy of the bill. We suddenly disconnect the service. Customers are only contacted when fees exceed 5,000 GBP, which may take up to ten months for someone with a monthly account of 500 GBP.”
Mayor M. Anilkucar said that this problem will arouse at the upcoming meeting with IOA authorities.
Francis Thekkethala, a common secretary of the Association of Vennal Sneham in Division 42, said that it seems that Scamsters use the fact that the invoicing of the city gas project must still be streamlined. “Many customers were unable to pay their accounts of the month. So when they are endangered by disconnecting services, they fall on fraud. We actively spread awareness through social media groups and urged people not to fail for unpaid accounts and assured them that the fees would be resolved without punishment,” he added.
Published – October 7, 2025 12:38 PM
