Meta has officially launched its safety campaign, ‘Scam Se Bacho,’ in partnership with the Indian government to combat the rising tide of online scams and cyber fraud. This two-month initiative is a collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
The campaign aims to educate citizens on identifying scams and leveraging Meta’s safety tools. Unveiled at a launch event in the capital on Thursday, ‘Scam Se Bacho’ is aligned with the government’s objectives to enhance digital security across India. The initiative features a comprehensive national consumer awareness campaign delivered in nine Indian languages, informative talk shows on Doordarshan, and specialized training sessions for law enforcement officers nationwide.
Kicking off the campaign, Meta released an educational film starring Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana. The film illustrates common scams that people encounter daily and emphasizes the importance of vigilance and caution in online interactions. It also highlights Meta’s safety features across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, including two-factor authentication, blocking and reporting capabilities, and privacy settings for WhatsApp groups.
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Technology, expressed support for the initiative, stating, “We are pleased to partner with Meta on this important initiative aimed at combating online scams and frauds. As India continues its digital transformation, ensuring the safety and security of citizens in the online space is a top priority for the Government.”
Rajesh Kumar, CEO of I4C, added, “At I4C, our mission is to create an effective framework for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrime in the country. We are pleased to collaborate with Meta on this nationwide campaign, which aligns with our goals to enhance awareness, strengthen law enforcement capabilities, and ultimately create a safer digital ecosystem for all.”
Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, also highlighted the importance of this initiative: “As India leads the global digital revolution with over 900 million internet users and is a world leader in UPI transactions, ensuring the safety of our digital ecosystem is of paramount importance. We are glad to support Meta’s ‘Scam Se Bacho’ campaign, which is a timely and much-needed step toward safeguarding our citizens from the growing threat of online scams.”
By collaborating with key ministries, the ‘Scam Se Bacho’ campaign reflects a comprehensive government approach to promoting digital safety and awareness. With Meta’s global expertise, the initiative aims to empower every Indian to protect themselves against cyber threats, ensuring that the nation’s digital progress is matched by robust security measures.
Sources By Agencies
