Sitharaman Urges Vigilance: Combating Cyber Fraud in India
In a recent ‘DATE with Tech’ event, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed the imperative of raising awareness about cyber frauds, highlighting the need for technological control to thwart scammers.
The Call for Awareness:
Addressing the audience, Sitharaman underscored the critical role of technological control in preventing scammers from exploiting the system. She expressed concerns about individuals falling victim to deceptive phone calls or SMS and emphasized the government’s commitment to regularly reviewing and reinforcing systems in collaboration with public sector banks and the RBI.
Building Alertness Among Citizens:
Sitharaman emphasized the importance of building alertness among citizens, caution against trusting information received on phones. She stated that unless people become wary and refrain from blindly trusting phone-based communications, this remains a significant risk of falling prey to scams.
“We are constantly doing what is required. Unless awareness, unless we are able to build that alertness in the mind of people that I should not go by anything that is said on my phone is built, citizens are at risk,” Sitharaman said.
Micro Level Concerns:
The minister expressed specific concerns at the micro level, where random calls put individuals in situations where they get trapped, resulting in financial losses. She stressed the need for individuals to exercise caution and not trust any caller without independently verifying their identity.
The Role of Large Institutions:
Sitharaman called for large institutions to possess advanced technology and adequately trained teams to fortify their systems daily. She highlighted the challenge of scammers using personal information to lend legitimacy to their calls, urging individuals not to trust any caller without establishing their legitimacy through reliable means.
Government Initiatives:
Government institutions, banks, and insurance companies are actively working to promote awareness, advising people not to trust any caller without establishing their legitimacy through reliable means. She acknowledges India’s ongoing digital transformation, emphasizing the country’s transitional stage from traditional to fully digital.
Re-reported from the article originally published in The Republic TV English
