PMC WARNS: A Step-by-Step Guide To Spotting The Fake 'Water Disconnection' Scam In Pune

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

Picture this: It’s late evening, your phone buzzes, and you see a message saying your PMC water connection is getting disconnected tonight due to an unpaid bill. Your heart skips a beat. Now imagine this happening to your parents or grandparents. That’s exactly the panic scammers are counting on.

As someone from Pune who genuinely cares about our city and the people in it, I had to write this. This isn’t just another news piece—it’s a must-read safety alert. I want you, your family, and especially our elders to be 100% protected from this scam.

🔎 Scam Explained: How These Frauds Are Fooling People

Step 1: The Trap Begins (The Fake SMS)

You receive a message that looks official. It says your water bill is overdue and your supply will be cut off tonight. It’s meant to scare you.

Step 2: The Scam Grows (The Link or Number)

The message includes a shady link or a mobile number. You’re told to “click to pay” or “call now to avoid disconnection.” But none of this is real.

Step 3: The Real Danger (Stealing Your Details)

Clicking the link takes you to a fake website. If you enter your card or UPI details—poof! Your money’s gone. Call the number? They’ll ask you to download AnyDesk or some other remote access app, and you’ve unknowingly handed them control of your phone.

Here’s what I personally use to quickly check if a message is fishy:

❗ Scare Tactics: PMC doesn’t send threatening messages out of the blue. Real bills come with repeated notices.
❗ Weird Links: Anything that’s not pune.gov.in is suspicious. Don’t click.
❗ Random Mobile Numbers: Real government officials don’t use personal numbers for billing calls.
❗ “Download This App” Trap: No real department will ever tell you to install AnyDesk or similar apps.

Keep this list handy and show it to your parents, grandparents, house help—anyone who uses a phone.

🔧 The Safe Way to Check & Pay PMC Water Bills (This Is What I Do)

✅ Go to the Official Website: Type www.pune.gov.in in your browser. Always.
✅ Use the PMC CARE App: Only from Google Play or Apple Store. Don’t trust random links.
✅ Offline? No Problem: You can still pay at your nearest PMC ward office or trusted payment center.

If I ever get confused, I double-check with the official website or call the real PMC helpline.

🚨 What You Should Do Right Now If You Got That Message

Here’s a quick 3-step plan I tell all my friends and family:

DO NOT click any links or call back.
DELETE the message immediately.
SHARE this info. Your parents or friends might be the next target. Let’s keep them safe.

📆 Final Words from Me

Scams like these make me angry, especially when they prey on the elderly or less tech-savvy. That’s why I felt it was important to explain everything in plain language. No jargon. Just facts.

If this article helped you understand what’s going on, please do me a favour: share it. Let’s make sure not a single Punekar falls for this trap.

Stay alert, stay informed. And as always, use official channels—never panic, never click blindly.

Much love,

— A fellow Punekar who just wants everyone to be safe