Govt, Meta to jointly combat rising online scams menace in India

The Government of India and Meta have joined forces for the ‘Scam se Bacho’ campaign, which is aimed at tackling rising online scams. This initiative of Meta, being launched in collaboration of key ministries Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), aims to combat the growing menace of scams and cyber frauds, aligning with the government’s commitment to addressing the rising cases of online scams and enhancing cyber safety.

While extending support to the Meta’s ‘Scam se Bacho’ campaign, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of Information and Broadcasting, mentioned that it is a timely and much-needed step toward safeguarding Indian citizens from the growing threat of online scams. “It reflects a whole-of-government approach towards fostering a culture of digital safety and vigilance,” he added.

India confronts rising cybersecurity challenges amidst rapid tech advancements

During the event, the I&B secretary highlighted that India, with over 900 million internet users, has seen extraordinary digital growth under the Digital India initiative, becoming a global leader in UPI transactions.

However, this progress comes with rising cyber frauds, with 1.1 million cases reported in 2023. The Prime Minister of India has called for stronger measures to combat these threats and enhance digital literacy.

Scams se Bacho: Equipping citizens to safeguard against cyber threats

During the event, Jaju emphasized that the ‘Scam Se Bacho’ campaign is more than just an awareness drive. This campaign can be a national movement that can empower Indian citizens with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves from these threats. “Our goal is simple, but powerful to create a culture of digital safety and vigilance. By leveraging Meta’s global expertise, the campaign will empower every Indian to protect themselves from cyber threats, ensuring that our digital progress is matched by robust digital security,” he added.