Caution against ‘Online Fraudulent Offers through fake letters & mails LPG distributorships & Retail Outlet dealerships

Mumbai,It has come to the notice of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), viz – Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. & Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., that some unknown persons/bogus agencies are sending fake letters and e-mails to fraudulently offer LPG distributorships and/or Retail Outlet dealerships and demanding money in the process. 
The unscrupulous entities are targeting innocent people and are sending fake e-mails/letter allegedly from OMCs– viz. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd./ Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd./ Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (using OMC logos on their letterhead for  offering LPG Distributorships / Retail Outlets) and are collecting money in the name of OMCs.
In case any communication is received regarding offering an LPG distributorship and/ or Retail Outlet Dealership either through mail or by letter, people are advised to immediately contact the nearest bonafide office of the related Oil Company, before taking any action – i.e. sharing personal information and/or remitting any money.
The contact details of the local offices are available on the respective websites and are as given below:

In order to dupe innocent applicant, several fake website have also been created. The layout of the fake website has been kept similar to the original websites: www.lpgvitarakchayan.inand www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.in.
The public is therefore advised to visit ONLY official websites of OMCs at www.lpgvitarakchayan.in(for LPG distributorships) and www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.in (for Retail Outlet dealerships) for authentic and official information and prevent themselves from being cheated by the unscrupulous elements.
While the Information Technology department of individual OMCs routinely report these fraudulent sites to be taken down, the public may also lodge a complaint with the cybercrime branch of the police, if any such case comes to their notice.
The appointment of LPG distributors and Retail Outlet dealers by the public sector OMCs is carried out across the country through a well-established selection procedure comprising detailed advertisement published in leading Newspapers, hosting on website of the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies and conducting draw of lots from amongst all eligible applicants.
None of the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies have appointed any agency/person on their behalf for selection/appointment of LPG distributors and RO dealers across the country, nor they have authorized any agency/person to solicit any money whatsoever from any candidate at any stage of the selection process.
The Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies shall not be responsible in any way for amount paid to any individual or group of individuals/agencies/Companies purporting to represent Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies.
OMCs once again caution members of public that responding to such fraudulent offers through offer letter, e-mails, or website, could result in compromising crucial personal information that can be misused to cause financial and other loss to them