New Delhi, 8 July 2008

Press Release

Impostors dupe ‘gullible’ customers of Rs 78,000

Caution! Customers are urged to guard against impostors posing as BSES employees

• Impostors masquerading as BSES officials dupe 3 Kotla Mubarakpur customers of Rs 78,000
• Impostors modus operandi includes Coercion, Fake BSES Identity Cards and Forged Stationary
• In two cases, impostors extorted money on the pretext that the resident’s meter’s were tampered and they (impostors) would have the penalty bill settled for a fraction of the ‘original’ amount
• In another case, impostor deceived a customer into parting with Rs 45,000. The ‘helpful’ fellow customer – citing statutory requirements – swapped customers cash with his cheque – which was later dishonoured for insufficient funds
• Customers are advised to ascertain the identity of visitors posing as BSES officials
• Customers should inform the nearest BSES office, call 39999707 / 3999808 or inform the Police - should they notice anything suspicious
• Customers should make payments only at designated BSES offices
• According to the statutory guidelines, all payments above Rs 4,000 are required to be paid by cheque

Off late, BSES has come across a few incidents, where impostors, masquerading as BSES officials have managed to not only con gullible customers, but also extort thousands of rupees from them. Moreover, these impostors use a variety of ‘dirty’ tricks to get the better of their targets. Sometimes, these impostors harass in the name of ‘tampered meter’ and some times in the name of ‘power theft’. Some times, they dupe by using ‘Fake’ Identity cards and sometimes with the aid of ‘Forged’ BSES stationary.

Recently, in separate cases, three customers – all residents of Kotla Mubarakpur – in the vicinity of South Delhi’s posh Defence Colony area were duped into parting with Rs 78,000.

Case of Rs 15,000 (Kotla Mubarakpur)

Impostors struck at the residence of one Net Ram – a resident of Wazir Nagar, Kotla Mubarakpur in South Delhi. Posing as BSES official, they told the customer that his meter was tampered and he would have to pay a heavy penalty to BSES. Thereafter, he offered to have the case ‘settled’ for a lesser amount. The customer falling for this well orchestrated tale paid him Rs 15,000 as part payment. On one of their subsequent visits – the customer grew suspicious of the ‘official’, as they had failed to live upto their commitment and snatched Identity Card of one of them. Subsequently, he brought the Identity Card to the BSES’ local office and narrated his story. The Identity Card was found to be fake. A search is on for the impostor.

In another recent case, customer was duped of Rs 18,000. In this case too, the customer was conned by impostors posing as BSES officials - into believing that his meter was tampered but they could have his case ‘settled’ for a lesser amount..

Case of Rs 45,000 (Kotla Mubarakpur)

In this unique case, one Prakash Chand – also a resident of Kotla Mubarakpur – was duped of a whopping Rs 45,000. The resident withdrew the money in question, to clear his outstanding dues. Near the BSES division office, an impostor – posing as a ‘helpful’ fellow customer – who apparently was keeping a track of this particular customer’s movement – approached him and informed that all payments above Rs 4,000 are to be made vide a only cheque payments. Sensing that the customer was in a hurry and did not have a cheque book at the time – the ‘helpful’ fellow customer offered that he could take the cash from him and give a cheque for the same amount. The gullible customer fell for this and took the cheque which he subsequently deposited. The cheque when presented to the bank, was dishonoured for insufficient funds. A Police complaint has been lodged and investigations are on.

BSES Advisory

“BSES urges customers to guard against unscrupulous elements - out to make a quick buck in a clandestine manner and tarnish the company’s image, not to get intimidated by their threats and false assurances – and do not give them any money – whatever be the reason. All Enforcement (fines and penalties) and Commercial payments are to be made only at designated BSES offices. Further customers are advised, that as per the prevailing statutory guidelines, all payments above Rs 4,000 are to be paid through a cheque only”, said a BSES official.

Customers are further advised to ascertain and verify the identity of persons claiming to be from BSES. Genuineness of BSES / BSES issued Identity Card can be ascertained by looking for the following – (i) BSES Logo, (ii) BSES Hologram, (iii) Photo of I Card holder, (iv) Date of Issue and Validity, (v) Signatures of I-card holder and Authorised signatory, (vi) Employee / I Card number and (vii) Name/ Logo/ Address of the Contractor and (viii) all the Identity Cards should be laminated”, said a BSES official, adding “Customers should immediately alert the nearest BSES office or call 39999808 and 39999707 and inform the local Police should they notice anything suspicious.

BSES, Delhi’s premier power distribution company, is committed to ensuring quality and reliable electricity supply to all its consumers.

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For further information please contact:

Prashant Dua	Chandra P Kamat
Corporate Communications	Corporate Communications
39999870 / 9312007822	39999088/9350130304