Bajaj Finance Ltd (BFL)., India’s largest Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) in the private sector, and part of Bajaj Finserv, today held a cyber fraud awareness programme in Trichy- Knockout Digital Fraud - to inform digital users about different types of threats, and best practices to safeguard finances.
The dignitaries at the event were Smt K. Shanmuga Priya (Inspector of Police), Mr. Jagadeesan (SI), Mr. Murali (SI- Technical Support Team) and K Asaithambi, Retd DSP. Around 75 people were part of this awareness campaign. The speakers threw light on various kinds of frauds prevalent in and around Trichy. The audience were informed about fake OTP fraud, Phishing Fraud, Digital Arrest, Financial Loan fraud, Pension fraud and other frauds.
“Eight out of ten police complaints we receive in Trichy city are linked to cybercrimes—ranging from fake identity fraud and deceptive websites to financial scams and digital arrest threats,” said Smt. K Shanmuga Priya, Inspector of Police, Cyber Crime PS, Trichy City, while addressing the audience during Bajaj Finance’s Knockout Digital Fraud awareness initiative.
She also revealed that in Trichy city Rs 14.43 Cr was lost to cyber fraud in the last eight months out of which only Rs 2.24 Cr was recovered. “Due to growing concern and the complexity of cybercrime cases in the city, the Commissioner of Police has instructed us to spread awareness about cyber frauds,” she said. Alerting students and young citizens about the dangers of cyber fraud, she added, “The root cause of cybercrime are fear and lack of awareness. People must educate themselves about digital threats. We, as law enforcement, are here to support and guide them. Don’t slack—stay alert and stay informed.”
The Knockout Digital Fraud programme aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s 2024 guidelines on Fraud Risk management for NBFCs, which emphasises 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.