Nizamabad : Bajaj Finance Ltd. (BFL), India’s largest private-sector Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and part of Bajaj Finserv, conducted a cyber fraud awareness programme in Nizamabad—Knockout Digital Fraud—to educate digital users about emerging threats and best practices to safeguard their finances.
The event held at SSR Degree & PG College, Kalilwadi, was honored by the presence of several distinguished guests. Shri Mohammed Moqeed Pasha, Cybercrime Inspector of Police, Nizamabad, and Shri Basavaraya Manohara, Retired Superintendent of Police, graced the occasion with their participation. The programme also featured the esteemed presence of Shri M.Maraiah Goud, Chairman of the College, along with other respected members of the faculty.
Addressing students and faculty members, the speakers—known for leading awareness initiatives—highlighted prevalent frauds in and around Nizamabad, including fake OTP scams, phishing, digital arrest, loan fraud, pension fraud, and other financial deceptions.
Cybercrime Inspector Moqeed cautioned students about the alarming rise in digital frauds, highlighting real-world cases where individuals were deceived by instant loan offers from unverified Chinese applications. He explained how fraudsters gain access to victims’ personal data and subsequently misuse it once permissions are granted on these apps. Emphasising preventive measures, he strongly urged students to adopt twofactor authentication on their devices to safeguard against virtual scams.
To reassure the students about their safety and instil confidence in them, Inspector Moqeed also shared his contact number, encouraging them to seek assistance immediately if they encountered any form of online fraud.
Reinforcing the message, Retired SP Basavaraya Manohara advised students to stay vigilant. “Do not click on unknown links or share OTPs with strangers. If you become a victim of any online scam, it is crucial to inform the police at the earliest so the case can be acted upon promptly. We are here to support and assist you,” he stated.
The Knockout Digital Fraud programme aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s 2024 guidelines on Fraud Risk management for NBFCs, which emphasises early detection, staff accountability, and public engagement to make the digital ecosystem safer for everyone.
The programme is focused on drawing citizens’ attention to common financial frauds committed by scammers including fake social media accounts, WhatsApp groups and websites that mimic financial companies, falsely claiming affiliation and impersonating their employees.
Speaking on the occasion, a spokesperson from BFL, said, “The financial safety of our consumers is paramount to us. We are constantly issuing online and offline advisories, on social media platforms, as well as through on-ground interactions with citizens, encouraging everyone to be cyber safe.”
Knockout Digital Fraud offers the cyber community valuable safety tips on safeguarding personal and sensitive information. This includes refraining from sharing OTPs, PINs, clicking on suspicious emails, SMSs, links, QR codes and downloading applications from unknown sources. It includes a series of interactive workshops, digital awareness drives, and community outreach programs across major cities and towns.
