Seminar Organized to Raise Awareness on Preventing Online Fraud – Rural Areas Must Also Be Informed, Says Consumer Affairs Principal Secretary

Jaipur : A seminar was held on Tuesday at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Mr. Subir Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs. The primary objective of the event was to raise public awareness about the growing threat of online fraud and to educate people on ways to protect themselves from such scams.

On the occasion, Mr. Kumar highlighted the rising number of digital transaction fraud cases, especially affecting poor and ordinary citizens. He emphasized the need for banks to disseminate preventive measures against online scams at the village and panchayat levels, so that even residents in rural areas become alert and informed.

Mr. Manish Saxena, Chief Manager at ICICI Bank, presented a detailed overview of various types of online frauds. He explained that cybercriminals are targeting individuals through phishing, smishing (SMS fraud), fake phone calls, fraudulent links, and QR code scanning.

To avoid falling victim, Mr. Saxena shared essential tips:

• Immediately report any suspected online fraud by calling the helpline number 1930.
• Avoid clicking on unknown links or scanning unverified QR codes.
• Never share confidential banking details such as OTPs, passwords, or account numbers.
• Report suspicious messages or calls to your bank or the cyber helpline.
• Use only official mobile apps and websites for transactions.

The seminar was attended by judicial and non-judicial members of the State Consumer Commission, chairpersons and members of all four District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums of Jaipur, and officers and staff from the Consumer Affairs and Food Department.