Cybercriminals posing as representatives of Green Gas Limited have allegedly cheated consumers in Lucknow of nearly ₹5 crore in about a month, prompting police and the gas company to launch a wider public warning campaign.
At least 45 Green Gas customers have approached cyber authorities with complaints involving fake meter updates, unpaid bills, KYC checks and connection-related warnings, according to police. Fraudsters are contacting consumers through calls, SMS and WhatsApp before sending malicious APK files or suspicious payment links.
Lucknow Crime Branch has now launched an awareness drive under Operation Digital Kavach as complaints continue to rise.
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Fraudsters pose as Green Gas staff and create urgency
The scam typically begins with a call or message from someone claiming to represent Green Gas.
The caller tells the consumer that a gas meter has not been updated, a bill remains unpaid or the connection may be disconnected unless immediate action is taken.
ADCP Crime Kiran Yadav said fraudsters are approaching consumers through SMS, calls and WhatsApp and may already possess some customer information, making their claims appear more convincing.
Victims are then asked to click a link, make a small payment or install an APK file purportedly required for meter or billing updates.
Green Gas Limited has separately warned that it never calls customers asking them to download an application for payment confirmation, share card details or OTPs, or pay through an individual’s UPI ID or QR code.
Around ₹5 crore allegedly lost in one month
Amar Ujala reported, citing Lucknow Crime Branch officials, that several consumers have collectively lost around ₹5 crore during the past month.
The figure is an estimate linked to complaints under examination and should not be read as a final audited loss total.
Separately, Times of India reported that at least 45 Green Gas consumers had approached the cyber cell by September 21.
Police said files with names such as “Meter Update.apk” were being circulated and could potentially give criminals access to SMS messages, OTPs, banking information and other data once installed.
The latest wave is broader than a single fraud case and suggests that criminals are repeatedly exploiting the Green Gas brand to target domestic piped-gas customers across Lucknow.
What a malicious APK can do
APK stands for Android Package Kit, the file format used to install Android applications.
The format itself is legitimate. The danger arises when a user installs an APK received from an unknown person instead of downloading an application from an official store or company source.
A malicious application may request permissions to read SMS messages, display content over banking apps or use Android Accessibility services.
If those permissions are granted, malware can potentially capture sensitive information or assist attackers in carrying out unauthorised transactions.
This is why a caller does not necessarily need to ask directly for an OTP or banking password.
The fake “meter update” application can become the technical route through which the attacker attempts to gain access to information on the phone.
Green Gas publishes official verification channels
Green Gas has placed a fraud warning prominently on its customer-facing website.
For Lucknow, Unnao, Ayodhya and Sultanpur customers, the company lists 6390905003 as its customer-care number and customercare.lko@gglonline.net as its official email address.
The company has also identified GGLPNG-S as an official SMS header in the latest Lucknow warning circulated by police.
Even then, consumers should not rely only on the name displayed on an SMS or WhatsApp account.
The safest approach is to independently open Green Gas’s official website or app and verify any claimed bill, meter or connection problem before taking action.
Crime Branch launches Digital Kavach awareness drive
Lucknow Crime Branch has begun a special campaign under Operation Digital Kavach to warn residents about the scam.
Police plan to work with Green Gas and resident welfare associations to circulate warnings through local messages, posters, banners and public announcements.
Investigators have also asked victims not to immediately delete suspicious messages.
Phone numbers, APK files, payment links and WhatsApp chats can become useful digital evidence when police attempt to trace the people behind a fraud network.
Crime Branch has listed 7839861034 as an organised-crime helpline for information related to these suspicious messages. Victims of cyber financial fraud should also report the incident quickly through the national 1930 cybercrime helpline.
Police warn against helping route stolen money
The latest warning also covers people who may be recruited to move the proceeds of cybercrime.
Police said fraudsters may offer commissions to people for using suspicious money to pay credit-card, electricity or internet bills.
Allowing an account or payment facility to be used in this way can potentially make an individual part of the financial trail being investigated.
Police have warned that where evidence establishes knowing involvement in handling cybercrime proceeds, legal action may follow.
The Green Gas scam shows how ordinary utility services are increasingly being used as social-engineering bait.
A message about an unpaid household bill may look routine. The fraud begins when urgency pushes the customer to trust the caller instead of independently verifying the request.
What this means for you: Never install an APK, scan a QR code or make a payment because someone calling themselves a Green Gas employee threatens disconnection or a meter problem. Verify the issue directly through Green Gas’s official customer-care channels and call 1930 immediately if money has been transferred fraudulently.
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