The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Thiruvananthapuram, has launched “RBI Reelathon 2026”, a state-level awareness campaign aimed at engaging college students in combating the growing threat of cyber financial frauds.

The campaign was inaugurated by Director General of Police, Kerala, Shri Ravada Chandrasekhar IPS, at a function held at the RBI Office in Thiruvananthapuram.

Addressing the gathering, the DGP expressed concern over the rising incidence of cyber crimes and observed that cyber fraud is not merely a technological issue but a serious social challenge affecting all sections of society. He noted that, beyond financial losses, victims and their families often endure significant emotional distress and trauma.

Highlighting emerging threats such as fraudulent investment schemes, digital arrest scams, illegal loan apps, fake job offers and mule account networks, he cautioned that cyber criminals are increasingly targeting young people through social engineering techniques and misuse of digital platforms. Stressing the importance of the “golden hour” in cyber crime reporting, he urged citizens to promptly report incidents through official channels, noting that timely reporting improves the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions and recovering funds.

Calling upon students to act as cyber safety ambassadors, Shri Ravada Chandrasekhar encouraged them to use their creativity and social influence to spread awareness on cyber fraud. He also announced that the best awareness content generated through the competition would be promoted through the official social media platforms of Kerala Police.

Speaking on the occasion, the RBI Regional Director, Thiruvananthapuram, said that cyber-enabled financial frauds, including those involving illegal loan apps and mule accounts, continue to pose a significant challenge in Kerala. He stated that Reelathon seeks to harness the creativity of students to develop awareness content capable of reaching a wider audience and fostering greater public vigilance.

RBI Reelathon 2026 will be implemented in three phases. In the first phase, awareness programmes on smart borrowing and safe digital banking practices will be conducted in around 150 colleges across Kerala. During the second phase, students will create and submit short videos and reels on topics such as illegal loan apps, mule accounts, cyber financial frauds and cyber hygiene. Teams shortlisted through multiple rounds of evaluation will compete in the Grand Finale later this year.

The top three winners will receive cash prizes of ₹75,000, ₹50,000 and ₹25,000 respectively. In the third phase, the winning reels will be disseminated through RBI’s official social media platforms as well as the social media channels of Kerala Police, banks, colleges and other partner institutions.

The inaugural function was attended by Shri E.B. Chindan, Banking Ombudsman for Kerala and Lakshadweep; Shri K.V. Bangaraju, Chief General Manager, SBI Kerala Circle; heads of major public sector banks; principals of leading colleges in Thiruvananthapuram; and senior RBI officials. 
For more details scan the QR Code

(Release ID: 2273157) Visitor Counter : 18