Haryana Police to use TikTok and other social media platforms to educate people against online cyber frauds

With an aim to educate and alert people against online frauds, cybercrime and other fictitious offers, Haryana Police will soon launch a new public awareness campaign through video-sharing app TikTok and other social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk said through this initiative, Haryana police will educate and caution people to be careful about unsolicited and false offers received through emails, phone calls and SMS.

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Virk said police would alert citizens through SMS and social media platforms to promote awareness campaign to warn people against online cyber frauds and scams. As part of the initiative, cell phone service providers will send one or two text messages to their users every week by their respective service providers. For this purpose, a meeting with telecom service providers would soon be convened, he said. The awareness campaign will also spread through social media platforms to reach out to maximum people.

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"Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to make money at others expense. A number of such complaints are being received where people are asked to click on links provided in the emails and SMS resulted in the loss of money," Virk said. "Awareness is mandatory and best defence to save gullible people to be victims of such frauds. This will also help in maintaining better coordination between Police and public."

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As part of the campaign, people would be learning about general safety and security measures, cybercrime-related awareness, traffic rules awareness, spoofed calls from abroad especially from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan asking information about security, Nigerian frauds. Additionally, Dos and Don'ts about weather-related advisories like fog, rain, natural disasters like earthquake, cyclones and land sliding, festival and events, religious journeys like Kanwar, Amarnath Yatra and Hajj would also be covered.

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(With ANI inputs)