LPG News: New fraud involving cylinder delivery; Indane, HP, and Bharat Gas issue urgent advisory

LPG Scam: In the digital age, cybercriminals are devising new methods to defraud people. Criminals are exploiting the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) to carry out these scams. Major companies like Indian Oil, HP, and Bharat Gas have alerted customers and advised them not to share this code with anyone.

HPCL has issued a warning to consumers via its safety portal. The company advises customers to verify the DAC code before sharing it, ensuring the OTP is 4 digits long, originates from 'VM HPGAS', and is shared only at the time of delivery. Through social media posts, the company clarified that HP Gas representatives never ask for an OTP via phone calls, WhatsApp, or suspicious links. Customers are advised not to trust messages that appear unusual, suspicious, or deviate from the standard official format.

Advisory issued by Bharat Petroleum

Bharat Petroleum has issued an advisory for its customers.

• The company has advised customers not to queue unnecessarily at LPG distributorships, as cylinder delivery will be made directly to their homes.
• Customers are advised to avoid unnecessary bookings and stockpiling.
• Customers are asked to share the OTP only at the time of delivery and are urged to use LPG judiciously.
• The company also stated that all official communication will take place solely through authorized channels.
• Indian Gas has also posted on the social media platform X, advising customers not to trust messages that appear urgent, originate from unknown sources, or differ from the official format.
• Additionally, the company has advised consumers to avoid queuing at agencies and instead book LPG via the 'Bharat Bill' feature on the Indian Oil ONE app.

How to book Indane LPG gas?

If you wish to book a cylinder, you can follow the methods listed below:

• Send an SMS with the text "REFILL" from your registered mobile number to 7588888824.
• Give a missed call to 8454955555 from your registered number to register an automated request.
• Call 7718955555 or send an SMS with the text "REFILL" to the same number.
• Log in to the official Indian Oil website: cx.indianoil.in.
• Customer Support: For feedback or assistance, contact Indian Oil's toll-free helpline number 1800-2333-555.

How to book an HP Gas LPG cylinder?

• Dial 88888 23456 or give a missed call to 94936 02222 from your registered mobile number.
• You can initiate the booking process by sending "Hi" to 92222 01122 from your registered mobile number.
• Visit the official website http://www.myhpgas.in to manage your account and place orders online.
• Use the UMANG app or popular payment platforms like Amazon Pay, Paytm, and PhonePe (via the BBPS section).
• Visit your nearest customer service center for assistance with refill requests.

How to book a Bharat Gas LPG cylinder?

• Call 7715012345 or 7718012345 from your registered mobile number, or send an SMS with the text "LPG" to these numbers. Save the BPCL Smartline number 1800224344 to your contacts and start the process by sending 'Hi' or 'Book'.
• Download the Bharatgas app from the Google Play Store, log in using your registered mobile number, and select the 'Refill Cylinder' option.
• You can also use the UMANG app, which allows you to manage bookings for all gas providers on a single platform.

What to do after booking?

• Once the cylinder is booked, you receive a message on your registered mobile number containing a booking number; using this, you can check the delivery status on the app or website. Delivery-related updates are also sent periodically via SMS. Additionally, an OTP is sent to your mobile number on the day of delivery.
• Companies have advised customers to carefully verify the OTP and not share it with anyone. Rely only on messages received from official numbers. Meanwhile, ongoing tensions in the Middle East are impacting the oil and gas markets, leading to fluctuations in LPG prices. The price of a 14.2 kg domestic cylinder has increased by up to ₹60, while the price of a 19 kg commercial cylinder has risen to ₹3,071.50.
• Currently, domestic LPG cylinder prices remain stable. However, experts suggest that if crude oil prices in the international market continue to rise, the prices of commercial and non-subsidized cylinders could increase in the near future. Recently, the price of Brent crude oil crossed $105 per barrel.