Haryana police to start extensive awareness campaign to sensitise masses about online frauds

CHANDIGARH: Haryana police will soon be launching a new public awareness campaign through SMS and social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to educate and alert people against online frauds, cyber crime and other fictitious offers.
Additional director general of police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk said on Tuesday that with this initiative, police will advise and caution the people to be wary from unsolicited and fictitious offers received through emails, phone calls and text messages.
He said that text messages and social media platform would alert citizens to be careful about online frauds such as promising lotteries and prize money. As part of the initiative, one or two SMS every week would be sent to cell phone users by their respective service providers asking them to maintain vigil against possible fraudsters. For this purpose, a meeting with telecom service providers would soon be convened. Similar practice would also be followed to reach maximum people through various social media platforms.
Virk said that cyber criminals are constantly looking for ways to make money at others expense. A number of such complaints are being received where people are asked to click on links provided in the emails and SMS resulted in loss of money. Awareness is mandatory and best defence to save gullible people to be victims of such frauds. This will also help in maintaining better coordination between police and public, he added.
Under the campaign, people would be sensitized about general safety and security measures, cyber crime related awareness, traffic rules awareness, spoofed calls from abroad especially from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan asking information about security, Nigerian frauds. In addition, dos and donts relating to weather related advisories such as fog, rain, natural disaster such as earthquake, cyclones and land sliding, festival and events, religious journeys such as kanwarr, Amarnath yatra, haj would also be covered under this drive.