Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Odisha Police has issued an advisory urging residents to remain vigilant against cybercriminals attempting to exploit public anxiety over the ongoing LPG cylinder shortage. The situation has been worsened by the conflict in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, and the United States.
The crisis has been triggered by disruptions in global LPG supplies, largely due to halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial route that supports nearly 90% of India’s LPG imports from West Asia.
In early March, the situation led to panic bookings, long queues at distribution centres, and concerns about black-marketing in certain areas. Although the central government and oil companies have reassured citizens about adequate domestic supply—and introduced measures such as ramping up local production and curbing hoarding—rumours of scarcity have spread quickly. This has created opportunities for fraudsters to circulate fake messages about urgent KYC updates or emergency bookings.
“While no specific complaints have been reported in Odisha so far, fraudulent messages and suspicious links related to LPG availability have been detected,” said Crime Branch SP Smit Parmar. “Scammers may falsely claim that immediate verification or registration is required to secure a cylinder, prompting users to click on malicious links or share sensitive details such as personal information, bank credentials, or OTPs.”
He also warned about files with the “.apk” extension, which can install malware on Android devices, giving criminals access to passwords, banking apps, and financial accounts. “Such breaches can result in direct financial losses as fraudsters siphon funds from compromised accounts. Citizens are advised to verify information only through official gas agency channels and avoid sharing personal or financial details with unknown callers,” he added.
