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News India Live, Digital Desk: These days, cyber thugs in the country have tried a new and dangerous trick to rob the general public. Now hackers are using LPG cylinder booking and subsidy as a weapon. A message is going viral on social media and WhatsApp, claiming that there is going to be a huge shortage of gas in the country and customers will have to click on a link to confirm their booking immediately. The Government of India has issued a strict advisory on this and has called it a big ‘phishing scam’. This gang of fraudsters, who are spreading the fear of gas shortage, are taking advantage of the psychological condition of the people. They send messages to press the ‘panic button’ saying “Your gas connection is going to be blocked” or “The cylinder supply will be stopped from next month.” In panic, people click on the suspicious link given in the message. As soon as you open that link, it looks exactly like the website of the real gas agency (Indane, HP or Bharat Gas), where you are asked for your banking details and Aadhaar number. How does this ‘subsidy’ and ‘booking’ fraud work? According to the government, this scam is working in two ways. First, in the name of updating KYC, in which customers are told that if they do not update their information immediately, they will stop getting subsidy. Secondly, in the name of pre-booking, the lure of huge discounts is given. As soon as the user enters their UPI PIN or debit card information there, hackers take access to their phone and make money disappear from the bank account in seconds. Government issued security guidelines Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Petroleum Ministry have clarified that the government or any gas agency does not send such suspicious links to customers over phone calls or SMS. If you have also received such a message, then keep these things in mind: Use only official apps: Always book gas from official platforms like ‘IndaneOne’, ‘Hello BPCL’ or ‘Paytm/Amazon’. Do not click on links: Do not open links given in SMS from any unknown number. Do not share personal information: Do not share bank OTP, PIN or Aadhaar number with anyone over the phone. Official website: Always visit mylpg.in for information. Trust only government websites like this. What to do if you become a victim of fraud? If you have unknowingly clicked on any such link or money has been deducted from your account, then call the National Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930 without any delay. Along with this, register your complaint on www.cybercrime.gov.in. Providing timely information increases your chances of getting your money back. Be alert and share this information with your family and friends so that they can also avoid this ‘digital robbery’.