Hisar cops’ pre-retirement checklist: Protecting savings from cyber fraud

Hisar: Recognising the growing threat posed by online scams targeting senior citizens and retirees, Hisar Police is set to launch a special pre-retirement awareness programme aimed at helping employees identify and avoid cyber fraud before they leave service.The initiative will cover government departments, universities and other institutions, with police personnel conducting awareness sessions on digital fraud, fake investment schemes, impersonation scams and the so-called "digital arrest" frauds that have surfaced across the country in recent years.Hisar superintendent of police Siddhant Jain said retired employees and senior citizens were increasingly becoming targets because they often have access to retirement benefits, savings and pension funds."Cybercrime has emerged as a major threat, particularly for senior citizens and retired employees who are often targeted by fraudsters," Jain said. He added that the objective was to equip employees with the knowledge required to safeguard their retirement corpus before they entered a new phase of life.The programme reflects a changing reality. Retirement, once viewed primarily through the lens of financial planning and healthcare, is increasingly becoming a question of digital safety as well.Police officials said fraudsters frequently pose as law-enforcement officers, bank representatives, government officials or investment advisers to gain the trust of victims. Many scams involve creating panic through threats of arrest, account freezing or legal action, prompting victims to transfer money or share sensitive banking information.Under the proposed initiative, employees approaching retirement will be educated about common fraud patterns, safe digital practices, methods of verifying suspicious calls and messages, and the steps to take when confronted with cyber threats.Officials believe such interventions could help prevent substantial financial losses at a stage of life when many individuals have limited opportunities to recover from them.Jain said preventive awareness was proving as important as enforcement in tackling cybercrime. "The idea is to prepare people before they become vulnerable targets," he said.