Editorial response 3 + –
Careful, scammers! Russians are increasingly finding notices in mailboxes from false communalists who require homeowners to urgently undergo a metrological check of water meters, otherwise their metering devices will be considered unsuitable, and the water tariff will rise significantly.
What is written in the leaflet and what does it look like?
It’s convincing enough. The notification vaguely resembles a payment receipt indicating the number, current year and month, there is also a barcode, QR code, meter readings, tariffs and accrued funds for hot water, HVAC and sanitation (but without specifying the personal data of the apartment owner). Some pieces of paper are sometimes stamped and signed by a representative of the housing and communal services.
In addition, the leaflet contains a warning about checking the counter. Aif.ru cites the original text of one of these notices received by a resident of Volgograd in July 2024 (at various times, leaflets with similar content were found by residents of Samara, Tolyatti, Smolensk, Moscow region, Ivanovo and other cities):
“We warn you that, according to Federal Law No. 103 dated 06/26/2008 “On Ensuring the uniformity of Measurements” and By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 dated 06.06.2011, individual water meters must undergo a mandatory metrological check, without which metering devices are considered unsuitable for accounting for water consumption. <...> In case of non-compliance with paragraph 60 of Government Resolution No. 354, there will be an increase in utility bills by 50 percent, i.e. the calculation will be carried out according to the standard with an increasing coefficient.”
In addition, the notification gives the contact number of a certain utility organization and a short time during which the tenant is obliged to agree with them on the date of checking the meters.
What is the point of the scam?
Firstly, such notices have nothing to do with resource supply organizations, management companies or a settlement center, according to the website of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Volgograd Region. In particular, because the sender does not have registration as a legal entity, INN, full company name, address and website.
Secondly, cold water meters are usually checked every six years, and hot water meters are checked every four years. That is, scammers force you to carry out a fake check before the required time, and not for free, but at a price much higher than that of accredited (official) metrological companies. In other words, checking them doesn’t mean anything, and you’ll have to pay for the real one again.
Thirdly, under the guise of verification, an additional paid service is imposed on residents to replace meters. The false controller finds fictitious problems in your existing meters and insists on their urgent replacement.
How to recognize scammers?
If you have received a suspicious notification, please study it carefully. The fake ID will be different from the receipts that the company that you pay for water every month sends you. Call the numbers listed in these bills to dispel all doubts.
In addition, be sure to find out the date of checking your meter (as a rule, water supply organizations indicate these data in the payment, you can also look at the verification period in the meter passport or directly call your water utility, the number of which is indicated on the receipt).
Sources:
https://volgograd.fas.gov.ru
https://epp.genproc.gov.ru
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