Belagavi police educate senior citizens in anti-cyberfraud drive after Rs 15 crore scam

Belagavi: In the wake of a recent Rs 15 crore cyberfraud involving an elderly victim, the Belagavi City police have launched an extensive awareness campaign aimed at safeguarding citizens, particularly senior citizens, from digital scams.City police commissioner Bhushan Borase said the initiative will primarily focus on elderly individuals, especially those from affluent and upper-middle-class backgrounds, who are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals. "We are particularly concerned about senior citizens, as they are more vulnerable to such fraud. We are reaching out to senior citizens' groups and organisations to create awareness," Borase said, speaking to TOI.Highlighting the evolving nature of cybercrime, the commissioner noted that such frauds are becoming highly organised, with the involvement of bankers leaking bank details in many cases. "Fraudsters often target individuals with substantial bank balances. Our priority is to protect retired and elderly citizens," he said. Borase clarified that a full-scale door-to-door campaign across the city is currently not feasible due to manpower constraints. However, the department plans to involve trained volunteers, including cyber warriors from engineering colleges, to expand outreach at the grassroots level. As part of the campaign, teams have begun visiting localities, interacting directly with residents, and spreading awareness on safe mobile phone usage, secure online transactions, and responsible social media practices. Police are advising citizens not to share OTPs, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and remain cautious of unsolicited calls or messages seeking KYC updates. They are also urging the public to verify any communication claiming to be from banks or authorised institutions before taking action. Citizens have been encouraged to promptly report suspicious activity or instances of fraud, as delays in lodging complaints often hinder investigations into cases such as fake investment schemes, lottery scams, and fraudulent part-time job offers. The commissioner added that a comprehensive strategy is being developed to strengthen cybercrime prevention and response mechanisms in the city.