ANANTAPUR (India CSR): Bajaj Finance Ltd. (BFL), India’s largest private-sector Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and part of Bajaj Finserv, conducted a cyber fraud awareness programme in Anantapur—Knockout Digital Fraud—to educate digital users about emerging threats and best practices to safeguard their finances.
The event, hosted at Sri Sai Baba National Degree College in Aravinda Nagar, witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries including T Venugopal, Inspector of Police, Cybercrime; Shaik Shavalli, Constable, Cybercrime, D Nagaraja, Retd. Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Dr Saritha, Principal, Sri Sai Baba National Degree College.
Addressing the audience which largely included students, the speakers highlighted prevalent frauds in and around Anantapur, including fake OTP scams, phishing, digital arrest, loan fraud, pension fraud, and other financial deceptions.
Cybercrime Officer Venugopal highlighted the growing prevalence of diverse digital frauds, explaining that “Fraudsters set traps in many ways—through fake job offers, easy loan schemes, or other deceptive methods. They collect crucial personal information and later misuse it for exploitation.”
To show how vulnerable personal data on mobile phones can be, he urged students to open their phones and review all the apps installed on their devices during the event. He demonstrated how personal details stored within apps can be accessed effortlessly, often without the user’s awareness. Mr. Venugopal, widely known for conducting digital fraud awareness programs, advised the audience to delete suspicious or unfamiliar applications to avoid becoming easy targets for cybercriminals.
Constable Shavalli emphasized the importance of the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and the need to report incidents immediately. “Everyone should understand the significance of the ‘Golden Hour’—the first 60 minutes after a crime occurs. Timely reporting greatly increases our ability to trace lost money and track down the fraudster,” he said. He also shed light on the rising cases of digital arrest scams and explained the steps individuals can take to protect themselves from such threats.
The Knockout Digital Fraud programme aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s 2024 guidelines on Fraud Risk management for NBFCs, which emphasizes early detection, staff accountability, and public engagement to make the digital ecosystem safer for everyone.
The programme is focused on drawing citizens’ attention to common financial frauds committed by scammers including fake social media accounts, WhatsApp groups and websites that mimic financial companies, falsely claiming affiliation and impersonating their employees.
Speaking on the occasion, a spokesperson from BFL, said,“The financial safety of our consumers is paramount to us. We are constantly issuing online and offline advisories, on social media platforms, as well as through on-ground interactions with citizens, encouraging everyone to be cyber safe.”
Knockout Digital Fraud offers the cyber community valuable safety tips on safeguarding personal and sensitive information. This includes refraining from sharing OTPs, PINs, clicking on suspicious emails, SMSs, links, QR codes and downloading applications from unknown sources. It includes a series of interactive workshops, digital awareness drives, and community outreach programs across major cities and towns.
(India CSR)
