Introduction

As digital technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday life, awareness of cyber threats and responsible digital practices has become essential. Recognising the importance of building a cyber-aware and resilient society, CyberPeace conducted a Cyber Safety and Fraud Prevention Awareness Session for the cadets of 2 Delhi Arty Bty NCC on 24 August.

The session focused on strengthening participants' understanding of common cyber threats, online scams and digital fraud, while providing practical guidance on how to identify, prevent and respond to suspicious online activities.

The initiative aimed to empower young cadets with the knowledge and confidence required to act as responsible digital citizens and contribute to a safer and more cyber-resilient nation.

Objectives

The key objectives of the awareness session were to:

• Increase awareness of emerging cyber threats and online fraud.
• Help participants identify common indicators of phishing and digital scams.
• Promote safe practices while using digital payment platforms such as UPI.
• Raise awareness about social media-based deception and impersonation.
• Educate participants about phone and messaging-based scams.
• Encourage responsible digital behaviour and cybersecurity hygiene.
• Enable participants to respond appropriately when confronted with a suspected cyber incident.

Key Topics Covered

Online Scams and Digital Fraud

Participants were introduced to common online scam techniques used by fraudsters to manipulate victims into sharing sensitive information or making fraudulent payments. The importance of verifying claims, sources and identities before taking action was emphasised.

Financial and UPI Fraud

The session highlighted the growing risks associated with digital payments and UPI transactions. Participants were advised to remain cautious of unsolicited payment requests, fake customer-support representatives, fraudulent QR codes and requests for PINs, OTPs or other confidential information.

Phishing and Malicious Links

Cadets were educated on how phishing messages and malicious links can be used to steal credentials, financial information and other sensitive data. Practical indicators for identifying suspicious URLs, messages and emails were discussed.

Social Media Deception

The session addressed threats arising from fake profiles, impersonation, fraudulent offers, manipulated content and social engineering on social media platforms. Participants were encouraged to verify information before trusting or sharing it online.

Phone and Messaging Scams

Awareness was also raised about fraudulent calls and messages designed to create urgency or fear. Participants were encouraged to avoid sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers and to independently verify suspicious claims.

Key Awareness Messages

The session reinforced several important cybersecurity practices:

• Think before you click.
• Never share OTPs, PINs, passwords or banking credentials with anyone.
• Verify links and websites before entering sensitive information.
• Do not trust unsolicited calls or messages claiming to represent banks, government agencies or service providers.
• Verify social media profiles before responding to requests or sharing information.
• Report suspicious activity instead of engaging with suspected fraudsters.
• Enable appropriate security and privacy settings across digital accounts.
• Stay informed about emerging cyber threats and fraud techniques.

Engagement and Learning

The session encouraged active participation and practical understanding of cyber risks. Through awareness-driven discussions and real-world examples, cadets were able to understand how seemingly routine online interactions can be exploited by cybercriminals.

The programme emphasised that cybersecurity is not limited to technical controls. Individual awareness, responsible digital behaviour and timely action are equally important components of cyber resilience.

Impact

The awareness programme contributed to strengthening the cyber safety knowledge of the participating NCC cadets and highlighted their role as responsible digital citizens.

As young and digitally engaged members of society, trained cadets can further contribute to spreading cybersecurity awareness among their peers, families and communities. Building this network of informed individuals can help reduce susceptibility to cyber fraud and strengthen community-level cyber resilience.

Conclusion

The Cyber Safety and Fraud Prevention Awareness Session with 2 Delhi Arty Bty NCC reinforced the importance of awareness in combating the growing threat of cyber-enabled fraud.

CyberPeace remains committed to empowering communities with practical cybersecurity knowledge and promoting a culture of safe, responsible and resilient digital citizenship.

Cyber resilience starts with awareness. By training digital guardians today, we can build a safer and more cyber-resilient nation tomorrow. 🇮🇳

Key Takeaway

“Every trained citizen makes our digital ecosystem safer.”

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