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Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Leak in system: Delhi Jal Board site feature exposes millions to scammers
A feature on the Delhi Jal Board's website has created a vulnerability that potentially allows scammers easy access to tens of thousands of residents' personal information, which may have enabled frauds worth at least ₹10 crore in four months, according to police. The DJB's 'Know Your KNO' portal, designed to help citizens find their 10-digit water connection identifier, inadvertently functions as a data harvesting tool. Anyone can input a partial address—as few as 10 characters—and access detailed results showing residents' full names, addresses, mobile numbers, and unique connection numbers (KNOs). These KNO numbers can then be used to get bill details of individual customers. With 2.9 million water connections across Delhi potentially exposed through this vulnerability, fraudsters pose as DJB officials and contact victims with urgent disconnection threats, using their personal and bill details to establish credibility before stealing money through malicious mobile applications or other means. The scam now accounts for approximately 20% of all cybercrimes reported in Delhi, according to multiple police station house officers across the capital. According to cyber officials, at least 5,000 complaints are received on NCRP each month in Delhi. Of these, more than 700 are complaints related to DJB fraud. Police said FIRs are limited to 100-200 as many complainants make double complaints or file wrong information. 'The accused sent a message saying my DJB connection will be cut off tonight as my metre reading was not updated,' said Laxman Agarwal, a 52-year-old RK Puram resident who lost ₹38,000 in May. 'He knew my address, my phone number, my KNO number and meter status. He said the pending amount was ₹12.' The method involves convincing targets to visit a malicious link or install an application. Agarwal downloaded an application file that appeared genuine, complete with DJB logos. 'As soon as I put my banking details, it showed an 'unsuccessful' transaction. While I was on the call with the accused, he quickly took out money in three transactions. I didn't even give him an OTP.' A businessman from Vasant Kunj lost over ₹1.5 lakh in a similar manner. 'The message said my connection would be disconnected in three hours. It's summer and losing water connection was scary,' he said, requesting anonymity. 'In less than an hour, ₹1 lakh was withdrawn from my two bank accounts.' The scammers typically claim small pending amounts—often just ₹12—to avoid suspicion. However, once victims engage, they lose significantly larger sums, usually between ₹20,000 and ₹50,000, according to a police inspector in the south range. Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Amit Goel said his force has received multiple complaints over the past four to five months. 'The scale of the scam is growing as multiple gangs are misusing data from DJB and targeting unsuspecting victims.' On June 2, police arrested three men from Jamtara and Deoghar in Jharkhand. Analysis of their devices revealed involvement in 35 additional cases, with one mobile number alone used to target 14 victims. Police estimate that at least 100 people fall victim to this scam in a month, though no collated figure was available. The total losses, an official said, has reached ₹10 crore over four months. 'We have written to DJB and even issued warnings on social media. However, the cases keep on increasing. DJB should either restrict access or do something,' said a deputy commissioner-level officer, asking not to be named. A freelance journalist from Inderpuri who lost ₹8,000 this week highlighted the broader problem: 'The biggest issue is that DJB has all the data and anyone can see it.' Even senior officials are targeted. A senior IAS officer in Kidwai Nagar received such a message on Monday, claiming a ₹12 pending amount would result in disconnection. He spoke to the person but on learning that the caller's number was 'active in Jharkhand', he realised it was a scam and did not fall prey to it. DJB released an advisory and officers shared details of their plan to make people aware of the scam. On June 3, DJB issued a social media advisory stating: 'It has been brought to the attention of DJB that its consumers are being contacted through mobile calls/SMS/WhatsApp messages by individuals falsely claiming to be from DJB... All consumers are urged to remain alert.' For now, DJB is not planning make changes to vulnerable portal, an official said. Since June, we have been spreading awareness about the scam through press releases, ads, social media and other platforms. At present, we are asking all our customers to call us and not fall prey to any of the calls or messages. We don't cancel any connection through messages. Also, people can check any meter update on our genuine website. For now, we are not making any changes to the website because people want to know the KNO and can't come to our office all the time,' a DJB official, asking not to be named. Dr Pavan Duggal, a cybersecurity expert, said, 'These cases are happening as cyber security loopholes are being exploited by fraudsters. This is not limited to DJB but multiple government portals. We need to have better cybersecurity systems in place to avoid this. Also, giving out all these personal details of the customers openly is in violation of the IT rules and regulations. The fraudsters are using the loophole to scam people. The system will have to be amended in a manner that effective remedies are provided to citizens, improved cyber security of government portals are in place and people need to be encouraged to improve cyber safety on their own.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Cops warn against cyber scammers posing as DJB officials
New Delhi: Delhi Police issued a warning across social media platforms to citizens about a cyber fraud in which scammers are posing as Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials to extort money under the pretext of cutting off the water supply. The police claimed that the scammers are using DJB's official application to access citizens' details and calling them. Police said that victims are typically told that their water connection will be disconnected due to unpaid dues or an unverified meter reading and are coerced into making small online payments, often leading to remote access to their phones and the theft of large sums from their bank accounts. A senior police officer said that the scammers are exploiting DJB's official platforms to extract personal information such as customer names, KNO (Key Number Only) details, registered mobile numbers, and addresses. "The fraudsters use this data to build trust with the victim. Once convinced, the victims are directed to download a malicious APK file and make a nominal payment, Rs 10 to Rs 12, during which the accused takes remote control of their device and siphons off their money," police officer added. In one of the cases reported from south west Delhi, a man was defrauded of Rs 38,161 through this tactic, the cops said. During the investigation, the following alarming facts were uncovered, "Fraudsters used the 'Know Your KNO by Address' feature in DJB app to access a list of customers. Sensitive data such as KNO numbers, addresses, and registered mobile numbers was openly displayed.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Delhi may make water bill receipt mandatory for property registrations
The Delhi government is considering mandating the Delhi Jal Board's (DJB) water bill receipt for property registration to improve payment compliance and revenue recovery. This proposal aims to address issues like unauthorized water access and high non-revenue water, which contribute to financial losses for the DJB. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Delhi government is considering making the Delhi Jal Board 's (DJB) water bill receipt a mandatory document for property registration . The proposal, aimed at improving water bill payment compliance, is currently under evaluation, according to a Times of India report citing senior per the report, feedback from sub-registrar offices is awaited before the policy moves forward. Authorities believe the move will help address low revenue recovery from Delhi's water consumers and strengthen water infrastructure With nearly 29 lakh registered water connections across Delhi, far fewer than the total number of households, many residents, particularly in unauthorised settlements, access water without official connections. This not only reduces revenue but also affects proper sewage treatment.'Just as electricity bills were often used as a proof during the property registration, water bills can also be incorporated into the process,' a DJB official told TOI.'This would ensure that water dues are settled and connections are regularised at the time of property sale or purchase,' the official proposal is also expected to support ongoing plans to revamp Delhi's sewer network. Water Minister Parvesh Verma earlier this month announced that all unauthorised colonies in Delhi will be connected to sewer lines by 2027. The initiative includes setting up 40 decentralised sewage treatment official further told TOI, 'Requiring a water bill during registration would bring transparency and prevent complications later.'Currently, DJB reports over 50% non-revenue water , treated water that generates no income due to leaks, theft, or unbilled usage. Authorities hope the new policy will encourage legal connections, improving both billing and service TOI report notes that DJB's financial losses grew from Rs 344.05 crore in 2019–20 to Rs 1,196.22 crore in 2021–22. The board's outstanding debt currently exceeds Rs 73,000 crore.'A clear link exists between accurate property documentation and enhanced infrastructure development,' the DJB official told TOI. 'The requirement for property owners to present water bill records would motivate more households to obtain legal connections. This would decrease the amount of untreated waste flowing into the Yamuna.'(With inputs from TOI)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi may make water bill receipt mandatory for property registrations
The Delhi government is considering making the Delhi Jal Board 's (DJB) water bill receipt a mandatory document for property registration . The proposal, aimed at improving water bill payment compliance, is currently under evaluation, according to a Times of India report citing senior officials. As per the report, feedback from sub-registrar offices is awaited before the policy moves forward. Authorities believe the move will help address low revenue recovery from Delhi's water consumers and strengthen water infrastructure . With nearly 29 lakh registered water connections across Delhi, far fewer than the total number of households, many residents, particularly in unauthorised settlements, access water without official connections. This not only reduces revenue but also affects proper sewage treatment. 'Just as electricity bills were often used as a proof during the property registration, water bills can also be incorporated into the process,' a DJB official told TOI. 'This would ensure that water dues are settled and connections are regularised at the time of property sale or purchase,' the official added. Live Events The proposal is also expected to support ongoing plans to revamp Delhi's sewer network. Water Minister Parvesh Verma earlier this month announced that all unauthorised colonies in Delhi will be connected to sewer lines by 2027. The initiative includes setting up 40 decentralised sewage treatment plants. The official further told TOI, 'Requiring a water bill during registration would bring transparency and prevent complications later.' Currently, DJB reports over 50% non-revenue water , treated water that generates no income due to leaks, theft, or unbilled usage. Authorities hope the new policy will encourage legal connections, improving both billing and service delivery. The TOI report notes that DJB's financial losses grew from Rs 344.05 crore in 2019–20 to Rs 1,196.22 crore in 2021–22. The board's outstanding debt currently exceeds Rs 73,000 crore. 'A clear link exists between accurate property documentation and enhanced infrastructure development,' the DJB official told TOI. 'The requirement for property owners to present water bill records would motivate more households to obtain legal connections. This would decrease the amount of untreated waste flowing into the Yamuna.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Water bill receipt may be made mandatory to register properties
New Delhi: The payment receipt of Delhi Jal Board 's water bill could soon be a mandatory document for property registration in Delhi. Govt authorities have indicated their intention to implement various measures to improve water bill collection rates, given the significant number of outstanding payments. The move would be part of the strategy to enhance payment compliance among consumers, an official said. A proposal is under evaluation to approve the water bill receipt as a compulsory requirement during the registration of a property. The sub-registrar's offices have been notified, and their feedback on the initiative is awaited regarding this initiative, a senior DJB official said. Delhi currently has around 29 lakh registered water connections, a figure significantly lower than the actual number of households. Numerous households, especially those in unauthorised settlements, access water utilities without proper connections, even if the infrastructure exists. Such practices not only affect DJB's revenue collection but also result in ineffective sewage handling and treatment systems. Officials said that just as electricity bills were often used as a proof during the property registration, water bills can also be incorporated into the process. "This would ensure that water dues are settled and connections are regularised at the time of property sale or purchase," an official said. The proposal can also address long-standing issues with Delhi's sewerage infrastructure. Currently, only around 1,200 out of the 1,800 unauthorised colonies in Delhi have access to sewer lines. Earlier this month, water minister Parvesh Verma announced plans to connect all such colonies to the sewer network by 2027, including the installation of 40 decentralised sewage treatment plants. A clear link exists between accurate property documentation and enhanced infrastructure development. The requirement for property owners to present water bill records would motivate more households to obtain legal connections. This would decrease the amount of untreated waste flowing into the Yamuna, said the official. The proposal is also seen as a step towards solving frequent disputes during property transactions caused by pending water dues. "Requiring a water bill during registration would bring transparency and prevent complications later," he said. Currently, DJB reports nearly 50-52% non-revenue water, which means more than half of the treated water does not generate any revenue, either due to leakages, theft or unbilled usage. Officials believe that formalising water usage through the registration process could significantly help in reducing this figure. If approved, the proposal would represent a major policy shift aimed at strengthening Delhi's water infrastructure and securing DJB's financial stability. DJB's financial losses jumped from Rs 344.05 crore in the 2019-20 fiscal to Rs 1,196.22 crore in 2021-22 while the board's debt stood at more than Rs 73,000 crore. The losses have since increased.
