In a crucial public advisory, the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit has flagged an allegedly official-looking letter claiming to offer an LPG agency dealership on behalf of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) as fake.
The letter, which has been circulating on social media and messaging platforms, falsely assures recipients of a distributorship approval under HPCL’s name.
What’s Being Circulated?
The letter bears HPCL branding and claims to confirm the recipient’s selection for an LPG dealership. It contains details that appear official at first glance, including document references, purported approval authority signatures, and instructions for further proceedings.
However, Government officials closely inspected the document and declared it fabricated.
PIB Fact Check Steps In
The @PIBFactCheck handle, the official government arm responsible for identifying misinformation related to government bodies, responded swiftly to the growing queries regarding the document.
In a tweet accompanied by a copy of the fake letter, PIB stated, “This approval letter is #FAKE. Visit the official website lpgvitarakchayan.in for authentic information.”
An approval letter allegedly issued by @HPCL is claiming to provide the LPG agency dealership/ distributorship.#PIBFactCheck
❌This approval letter is #FAKE.
▶️Visit the official website https://t.co/UjnPSa881y for authentic information. pic.twitter.com/daYO21iqOc
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 21, 2025
The tweet advises the public to avoid engaging with or responding to the letter and warns against potential financial or personal data fraud arising from such scams.
Where to Find Verified Information
For those genuinely interested in applying for an LPG dealership or distributorship, the official portal, [LPG Vitarak Chayan](http://lpgvitarakchayan.in), remains the only trusted source.
The site is jointly operated by India’s leading oil marketing companies. It provides up-to-date information on available locations, application procedures, eligibility, and selection processes.
HPCL, along with Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum, maintains transparency through this shared platform, where users can track notifications and submit applications directly.
A Call for Vigilance
Incidents such as these underscore the need for public vigilance in an age where digital misinformation is rampant. Authorities recommend,
- Never responding to offers not listed on official websites
- Avoiding monetary transactions based on unsolicited messages or emails
- Verifying any document that claims government or corporate affiliation through official sources
Fraudsters have previously used fake dealership offers to defraud people. Law enforcement and corporate entities have issued repeated warnings about scams using forged letters or job appointment orders to deceive the public.
The fake HPCL dealership approval letter is yet another example of how fraudsters exploit trust in reputed institutions. Authorities advise the public to remain cautious and rely only on official channels such as http://lpgvitarakchayan.in for all dealership-related information.
Also Read: PIB Issues Urgent Alert Over Fake ‘Income Tax Department’ Email
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