"LPG payment pending"—one click, and my phone was hijacked and money from my bank account was gone

I work in an office and manage our household—bills, supplies, and making sure we don’t run out of essentials.

With news of LPG shortages everywhere, I was already anxious about keeping the gas supply going. I wasn’t looking for trouble—I just wanted to pay what was due so our supply wouldn’t get cut.

I got a message saying my LPG payment was pending and that supply would be stopped if I didn’t pay immediately.

It looked like it could be from the gas agency or distributor. With all the talk of shortages, I didn’t want to risk a lapse.

I clicked the link in the message.

The message had a link to complete the payment or update KYC—phrases like “LPG KYC pending”, “Aadhaar link pending for LPG cylinder”, or “Immediate payment required to continue LPG supply.”

I told myself it was the right thing to do—clear the pending payment before the supply stopped. I felt rushed because of the shortage news and didn’t want to seem careless. Part of me wondered if I should verify first, but I was afraid of delay.

I didn’t want to bother anyone at the distributor; the message seemed official enough.

After I clicked, my phone was hijacked—I couldn’t use it normally. Unauthorized payment withdrawal requests started hitting my bank account. My WhatsApp was hacked too. I had no control.

When I realized my phone was no longer mine and saw the withdrawal requests, I went to the police.

At the station I found many similar complaints—others had received the same kind of messages and clicked. The fraudsters had been sending those fake LPG and KYC links to thousands. That’s when I knew it was a coordinated scam using the gas shortage to create panic and steal from people.

Money from my bank account was gone—taken by unauthorized withdrawals—and I spent days trying to secure my phone and WhatsApp. The stress and shame were huge—I felt stupid for clicking.

Reporting and dealing with the bank and police was exhausting. I still get anxious when I get any message about payments or KYC.

I now know: no real gas company or government body will ask you to pay or link Aadhaar via a link in SMS or WhatsApp. I wish I’d checked only through the official distributor or government portal before doing anything. Scammers use current events—like gas shortages—to make their messages feel urgent and real.

• Never click links in SMS, WhatsApp, or email about “LPG payment pending,” “LPG KYC pending,” “Aadhaar link for LPG,” or “immediate payment to continue supply.” These are common scam messages in India.
• Verify only through official channels: your known LPG distributor, the official government or company website, or a phone number you look up yourself—not from the message.
• If you clicked and suspect your device or accounts are compromised, contact your bank immediately, secure your WhatsApp (e.g. deactivate and recover), and report to the police. Share awareness with family and colleagues.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.