The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc on Wednesday issued a public disclaimer on fraudulent text messages targeting customers with false promises of electricity bill refunds.

The ‘scam SMS’, circulating widely across mobile networks, impersonates the company to deceive victims into clicking on malicious links.

IBEDC noted that the fraudulent SMS messages often appear with the sender ID “FROM: IBEDC.”

“The attention of IBEDC has been drawn to SMS messages claiming that customers’ utility bills have been recalculated and that a refund is available. We wish to categorically state that IBEDC is not conducting any refund exercise through that website or any similar third-party link,” the management stated.

The power distribution company clarified that it is not currently running any mass refund exercise. The fraudulent messages specifically direct recipients to a third-party website, “www.infodhe.online,” which the company has officially flagged as a phishing site.

“The SMS in circulation did not originate from IBEDC, does not represent our processes, and is not linked to any of our approved platforms or channels,” the company clarified.

To prevent financial loss, IBEDC urged customers across its franchise areas to exercise extreme caution and maintain high security over their personal information.

“Customers are strongly advised to ignore and delete any SMS claiming refunds and are warned strictly against clicking the provided links.

“Individuals should not disclose their banking details, card information, BVN, OTP, passwords, or any personal data to these websites or to unknown callers claiming to be from the utility provider,” the company emphasised.

The management further stressed that all legitimate transactions, including electricity purchases, account inquiries, and authorised refunds, must be conducted through official channels, such as iRecharge, accredited payment agents, and IBEDC business offices.

“All legitimate transactions should only be conducted through IBEDC’s authorised platforms. We encourage the public to report any suspicious SMS, calls, or websites using the company’s name to our customer care channels immediately,” the management urged.

The statement concluded with a stern warning regarding the legal and financial consequences of engaging with scammers.

“IBEDC will not be liable for any losses or damages arising from transactions or interactions conducted through unauthorized, third-party, or fraudulent platforms falsely claiming to represent the company,” the statement concluded.

Customers seeking to verify any information are directed to use the official customer care lines or the company’s verified social media handles.