Why You Should Never Share Your LPG OTP Over a Phone Call
The “Liquid” Threat: LPG Giants Issue Nationwide Scam Warning
On May 11, 2026, India’s three primary Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)—Indane (Indian Oil), HP Gas (HPCL), and Bharat Gas (BPCL)—issued a joint emergency advisory. The warning follows a massive spike in “Digital Delivery Fraud,” where scammers pose as gas agency officials to steal Delivery Authentication Codes (DAC) and eventually siphon funds from linked bank accounts.
The Modus Operandi: The “Cancellation” Trap
Cyber-criminals are utilizing a high-pressure social engineering tactic to catch users off guard:
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The Fake Alert: You receive a professional-looking SMS or WhatsApp message mimicking an official delivery notification.
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The Urgent Call: Seconds later, a “representative” calls, claiming there is a technical error or a pending document update. They tell you that your cylinder delivery will be cancelled immediately unless you provide the OTP/DAC over the phone for “verification.”
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The Breach: Once you share the code, the fraudster gains unauthorized access to your consumer profile or, in more advanced cases, triggers a transaction through your linked financial apps (like BHIM or PhonePe).
The “Doorstep-Only” Protocol
The OMCs have reiterated that the DAC/OTP system is designed for one purpose only: physical verification at the time of delivery.
| Feature | Indane (Indian Oil) | HP Gas / Bharat Gas |
| Code Length | 6 Digits | 4 Digits |
| When to Share | ONLY when the agent is at your door. | ONLY when the agent is at your door. |
| Official Senders | VK-INDANE, VM-INDANE |
VM-HPGAS, AD-BPCL |
| Phone Policy | NEVER share over a call. | NEVER share over a call. |
New 2026 Rules & Market Volatility
This scam surge comes amidst a major shift in LPG regulations due to the ongoing West Asia energy crisis:
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Refill Gap: To manage supply, the government recently extended the mandatory gap for refills—25 days for urban areas and 45 days for rural areas.
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Mandatory OTP: As of May 1, 2026, OTP-based delivery has become mandatory nationwide to prevent the “black marketing” of domestic cylinders for commercial use.
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Price Watch: While domestic rates are currently stable (around ₹902.50 in Mumbai), the recent surge in Brent crude past $105 means experts are bracing for potential price revisions in June.