Dhanbad has proved how the mass public awareness campaigns can be very effective in the face of rising cyber fraud. Through a massive network of schools, villages and local communities it has been estimated that cyber fraud has been widely recognized and awareness campaigns have been performed among around 35 lakh people. It is a campaign to educate people about common online scams, tell them signs of fraud and to take quick action when suspicious financial activities are detected.
With digital payments, internet banking, smartphones and other online services now becoming ubiquitous, the common money is being transferred and people have become more and more vulnerable to these and the fraudsters are using them to target their vulnerable users.
At the same time, many fraudsters use phishing links, fake customer service numbers, fake investment offers, impersonation and deceptive messages to get victims to reveal secrets and transactions or to transfer money to them.
Dhanbad’s awareness campaigns are grassroots and reach people in places where traditional cyber-safety campaigns might not be very strong. Schools are a key component of the programme because young people are some of the most active users of smartphones, social media and digital platforms.
Students who are educated on responsible internet usage can be able to identify suspicious links, fake profiles and fraudulent online offers but also share cyber-safety information with parents and relatives.
The campaign’s village-level outreach is equally important. People in rural and semi-urban communities are using digital banking and mobile payment services more and more to fund themselves, and the awareness of online fraud is more important than ever. With information from these villages, officials and awareness teams can explain cyber scams in a simple and accessible manner to the people of these villages and get them to see fraudsters in action and what precautions they should take when using digital financial services.
One of the main purposes of such campaigns is to get people to understand that cybercriminals use psychological manipulation (not just sophisticated technology).
Fraudsters may create a sense of urgency by claiming that a bank account will be blocked, a parcel is being held, a government benefit is pending or a reward has been won. Victims might then be lured by a link, share an OTP, disclose a password or transfer money to another account.
Thus awareness programmes stress one of the most important principles of digital safety: never share confidential banking information with anyone. Passwords, PINs, OTPs and other authentication details should remain private. Banks, government and legitimate service providers do not require customers to disclose such information through unsolicited calls or messages. People also need to avoid clicking unknown links and verify suspicious messages independently using official websites or verified contact numbers.
Dhanbad also provides a concrete reminder that cyber fraud must be reported quickly. The person who notices an unauthorised transaction should contact the bank or financial institution immediately and report the cybercrime through the appropriate cybercrime channels. Quick reporting can help authorities and financial institutions to find or secure funds when a complaint is made.
The campaign's reach of approximately 35 lakh people shows the scale at which cybercrime awareness can be done when schools, villages and communities are included. Instead of focusing on urban centres and technology-savvy audiences, cyber-safety messaging in the everyday household can help to develop a culture of digital caution.
Schools can also act as information hubs in this effort. Teachers and students can discuss common online scams, responsible social media use, password security and safe digital payment practices. Young people can then serve as messengers within their families to older relatives who may not be familiar with changing cyber fraud.
At the community scale, awareness campaigns can also lessen the stigma of cybercrime victims. People who are victims of scams may at times be reluctant to report the scam because they are embarrassed and they don’t want to be blamed. Public education can also help to make the point that anyone can be a target and reporting is more important than blame.
Dhanbad’s extensive campaign speaks to the increasing belief in technology-based crime not just in the process of investigating after a fraud has taken place. Prevention and public awareness are equally important in cybercrime control.
When people learn how scams work and what are the basic precautions for digital transactions, fraudsters are less likely to manipulate potential victims.
As digital services have become more ubiquitous, cyber safety is becoming an increasingly important part of life. The Dhanbad awareness initiative with its reported reach to around 35 lakh people underscores the need to take cybercrime education beyond offices and technology centres and into schools, villages and homes.
More awareness together with prompt reporting and responsible digital behaviour will help communities to be better armed to detect and combat online fraud.
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