What’s Up with Elections? Safeguarding Encrypted Messaging Apps from Election Manipulation
In Badla village, Jharkhand, SP Indu Devi, a dedicated SoochnaPreneur, has been leading the charge to protect her community from the growing threat of cyber fraud. To combat rising cyber fraud and misinformation in rural areas, the SoochnaPreneur programme was launched to boost digital literacy and resilience. SoochnaPreneurs, like Indu Devi in Badla village, educate communities on online fraud risks and how to navigate the digital world safely. The sessions cover topics such as phishing scams, fraudulent schemes, and when to report suspicious activity. Indu also uses real-life examples, like Sasita’s story, to emphasis the importance of vigilance. Her efforts have greatly improved the community’s ability to identify and avoid cyber fraud, boosting their confidence in using technology and accessing government services, and breaking the cycle of digital exclusion.
When Sasita Oraon, fell victim to a well-planned scam, it became a turning point for Indu Devi’s mission to raise awareness and empower villagers to recognise and prevent online fraud. Sasita received a call from someone claiming to be an official from the Agriculture Department, stating her family had been selected to receive a government tractor as part of a scheme for model farmers. To avail this, she was asked to pay INR 58,000 for soil verification and a tractor subsidy, with payments made through QR codes on WhatsApp. The caller pressured Sasita to keep the information confidential, warning that revealing it could cause her benefits to be transferred to another farmer. When Indu Devi learned of Sasita’s experience, she immediately began holding regular training sessions for the villagers. These sessions, especially focused on women, taught how to spot common types of cyber fraud, like phishing scams and fake government schemes, and how to use QR codes safely. She shared Sasita’s experience as a key example, showing just how easily fraudsters can manipulate people and highlighting the importance of vigilance.
Indu’s effort has made a significant impact in the village, with many now better equipped to recognize and avoid cyber fraud. As the community’s digital literacy improves, so does their confidence in engaging with technology and accessing government services, helping to break the cycle of digital exclusion and vulnerability.
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