‘Scam Se Bacho’ Campaign

March 18, 2025

Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India partnered with WhatsApp to combat online scams and spam through the `Scam Se Bacho` campaign. This initiative aims to educate citizens about identifying and reporting fraudulent communications. The collaboration is part of India’s broader digital safety strategy as the nation continues its digital transformation.

Objectives

The main goal of the partnership is to enhance digital safety and awareness among citizens. The DoT and WhatsApp will work together to provide resources and information that empower users to recognise potential scams. This initiative is crucial as online fraud becomes increasingly prevalent.

Training Initiatives

The campaign will feature train-the-trainer workshops. These workshops will target DoT officials, Sanchar Mitras, and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). The aim is to equip these individuals with the knowledge to educate the public effectively. This proactive approach is expected to strengthen the overall response to cyber threats.

Sanchar Saathi Initiative

WhatsApp will collaborate with the DoT to enhance the Sanchar Saathi initiative. This citizen-centric programme includes a portal and mobile app designed to empower users. Citizens can report suspected fraud calls and messages, manage their mobile connections, and block or trace lost devices.

Digital Intelligence Unit

The DoT’s Digital Intelligence Unit plays a key role in this initiative. It facilitates the exchange of digital intelligence among various stakeholders, including banks and law enforcement agencies. This collaboration helps monitor and address the misuse of telecom resources effectively.

Multilingual Educational Materials

To maximise the reach of the campaign, WhatsApp will develop educational materials in multiple regional languages. This includes Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Gujarati. The aim is to ensure that all citizens can access vital information about online safety.

« Previous Post