Home Guard Loses ₹92,000 in Electricity Meter Scam in Bhagalpur

A Home Guard in Bhagalpur was defrauded of ₹92,000 after cybercriminals posing as electricity department officials tricked him into clicking a malicious link sent via WhatsApp.

The incident occurred on November 6. The victim, Vinod Kumar Yadav, posted at Bhagalpur Samyukt Bhavan, had saved the amount for his daughter’s wedding. He received a call around noon from an unknown number claiming to be from the Electricity Office. The caller told him that the family’s electricity meter was “not updated” and demanded a ₹100 recharge to avoid disconnection.

Soon after, the fraudster sent a link on WhatsApp, allegedly from “Bihar Electricity”. According to the complaint filed by his son Nitesh Kumar, Yadav clicked the link, after which his phone shut down. When it restarted, his entire bank balance had been wiped out.

Nitesh immediately dialed the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and later filed a complaint with the Bhagalpur Cyber Police Station. Police said they are investigating the case and attempting to trace the gang involved.

A cyber officer noted that such scams—where fraudsters threaten electricity disconnection or meter deactivation—have been rising. Residents have been advised to avoid unknown links and verify such calls directly with the electricity department.