CHANDIGARH, Dec. 5 — A bogus electricity helpline listed on Google led a Sector 35 couple into a ₹3.67-lakh cyber fraud after they contacted impostors posing as executives of the local power utility.
According to the complaint filed by Umesh Kumar, her husband Kanil found the number while searching for assistance during a power cut on September 2. The man answering the call claimed to represent the Chandigarh Power Distribution Company and warned that their connection could be disconnected unless they updated their bill by paying ₹10 online.
When Kanil said he used only Google Pay, the caller sent a WhatsApp link from a different number and urged him to complete the payment. Shortly after he clicked it and shared OTPs, the couple lost ₹3.67 lakh through multiple transactions.
Police said they are tracing the numbers involved and issuing advisories against using helpline details sourced from unverified search results.
