Over the past year, more than 26,000 cases of cyber fraud have been registered in Uttarakhand, resulting in a financial loss of ₹167 crore.
Roorkee: Bajaj Finance Limited, part of Bajaj Finserv and India’s largest non-banking financial company (NBFC) in the private sector, organized an awareness program in collaboration with Uttarakhand Police at Saraswati Vidya Mandir Inter College, Roorkee. The initiative, titled “Knockout Digital Fraud,” aimed to educate students and digital transaction users about various risks and best practices to safeguard their finances.
During the event, Sub-Inspector Praveen Bisht of Uttarakhand Police advised people never to open unknown links received via WhatsApp or email, as these can be used by fraudsters to hack phones and gain access to personal data. Using this information, cybercriminals can steal money and access private photos and videos from social media, which they may edit and use for blackmail. 
He also warned against downloading APK files, as they can make it easy for hackers to take control of your phone. Elderly people are often targeted with calls claiming their debit card or OTP services are being deactivated, leading to fraudulent withdrawals. Some cybercriminals extract photos and videos from social media accounts, edit them into obscene content, and use them for extortion. He emphasized the importance of enabling privacy settings on social media accounts to prevent data leaks.
He further stated that recently, cybercriminals have been using threats of “digital arrest” to extort large sums of money. He clarified that no one can be digitally arrested by the police or any other authority. In case of cyber fraud, citizens should immediately call the Government of India’s Cyber Fraud Helpline at 1930. Emphasizing public awareness, he said, “Any initiative that raises awareness about cyber fraud is not only welcome but essential for the safety of citizens.”
Sanjeev Kumar, Zonal Head – North (RCU) at Bajaj Finance, explained that the “Knockout Digital Fraud” campaign aligns with the fraud risk management guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2024 for NBFCs. These guidelines stress early detection, employee accountability, and public participation to create a secure digital ecosystem. The program focuses on making citizens aware of common financial frauds, such as fake social media accounts, WhatsApp groups, and websites impersonating finance companies and their staff.
“The financial safety of our customers is our top priority,” he said. “We continuously issue advisories online and offline across platforms, and we’re conducting such grassroots-level programs to engage citizens in cyber safety conversations. This campaign provides valuable tips on protecting personal and sensitive information, such as not sharing OTPs or PINs, avoiding suspicious emails, SMS, links, QR codes, and not downloading apps from unverified sources.”
The campaign includes a series of interactive workshops, digital awareness drives, and community outreach programs across key cities and towns.
Former DSP of Dehradun, Mr. Brijbhushan Juyal, also addressed the gathering and advised citizens to stay safe on digital and social platforms. He warned, “Fraudsters often exploit low awareness and lure people with false promises of huge gains. I urge everyone to remain alert, report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station, and avoid interacting with unknown online profiles. Stay vigilant, stay safe.”
On this occasion Sub-Inspector Praveen Bisht, Uttarakhand Police, Former DSP Brijbhushan Juyal, Uttarakhand Police, Hariom Sharma, Area Manager, Bajaj Finance, Sanjeev Kumar, Zonal Head – North (RCU), Bajaj Finance, Ramesh Kumar Rawal, Manager, Yogi Mangalnath, Saraswati Vidya Mandir Inter College, Roorkee were also present.
