New Delhi, May 15, 2006

Press Release

Caution! Customers urged to guard against imposters

• A customer received forged power theft bill
• BSES urges customers to guard against such unscrupulous elements
• Customers should ascertain and verify identity of people wanting to open / change the meter
• Last few months have seen BSES Vigilance Teams catching many gangs

BSES was recently confronted with a unique case, when a consumer visited its Enforcement Department with a bill, in which he was penalised for Rs 1.20 lakh on account of power theft. A close scrutiny of the bill revealed that it was forged and that the consumer was sent the bill by some unscrupulous elements in a bid to make quick money.    

The consumer, a resident LIG DDA Flats, Rajouri Garden in West Delhi Flats received an Enforcement Bill (for power theft) of Rs 1.20 lakh – supposedly sent by the Enforcement Division of BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL). But it had telltale giveaways. For starters –the company’s name was wrong, there was no similarity in fonts, and the penalty bill of Rs 1.2 lakh was for a mere 1 KW meter.

In this case, the customer was approached by the members of the gang (posing as BSES officials), alleging that his electricity meter was running slow and wanted to take the electricity meter away with them. He was also told that this was a serious offence and he will have to pay a heavy penalty and suggested that he do a “settlement” for a lesser amount. But the alert customer, did not agree to a “settlement” and also did not allow them to take away the meter and instead visited the local BSES office. Earlier, the customer had received the bill through Speed Post from the Kalkaji Post Office.

BSES urges its customers to stay alert against such unscrupulous elements – out to make a quick buck in a clandestine manner and tarnish the company’s image – and not to give them any money – whatever be the reason. All Enforcement related payments (fines and penalties) are to be made only at designated BSES offices. Customers are further advised to ascertain and verify the identity of persons wanting to check the meter and should immediately alert the nearest BSES office or call 39999888 and 3999777, should they notice anything suspicious.

Meanwhile – BSES has reported the matter to the local police and it on the verge of catching the imposters. In the last few months, BSES Vigilance Teams along with Delhi Police have caught many gang of imposters.

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