The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc on Wednesday issued a public disclaimer warning customers about fraudulent text messages that falsely promise electricity bill refunds.
The ‘scam SMS’, which has been widely circulated across mobile networks, impersonates the company in an attempt to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links.
IBEDC noted that these fraudulent 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 company clarified that it is not currently running any mass refund exercise. The messages specifically direct recipients to a third-party website, “www.infodhe.online,”
which IBEDC 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.
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To protect customers from financial loss, IBEDC urged individuals across its franchise areas to exercise extreme caution and maintain high security over their personal information.
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“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 also 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 about 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 who wish to verify any information are directed to use IBEDC’s official customer care lines or verified social media handles.
