The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kohima, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, organised a one-day media workshop, Varta on “Cyber Suraksha Abhiyan: Protecting Citizens from Digital Fraud” at Hotel Japfu, Kohima today. The workshop featured experts from NIELIT, Kohima, including Mr. Atoshe Lohe, Principal and Forensic Analyst, and Mr. Visezo Dahou, Faculty, Cyber Security.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Atoshe Lohe outlined the Money Restoration and Grievance Redressal modules on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, launched in April 2026 by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said the modules are aimed at streamlining fund recovery for victims of financial fraud and addressing grievances, including issues related to frozen bank accounts.

Mr. Lohe cautioned citizens about the increasing misuse of social media platforms and digital applications by cyber fraudsters. He said fraudsters are increasingly using fake investment schemes and impersonating banks and financial institutions to deceive users. He particularly cautioned against downloading applications or software from unverified sources, noting that remote-access applications such as AnyDesk, when misused, can allow fraudsters to gain control of devices and access sensitive information.

He urged citizens to download applications only from trusted and official sources and to exercise caution before granting remote access to their devices.

Highlighting the importance of prompt reporting, Mr. Lohe stressed the significance of the “golden hours” following a financial cyber fraud, stating that early reporting increases the possibility of tracing and recovering lost funds. He urged victims to immediately report financial cyber fraud through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

He also noted that cybercrime investigations can be challenging due to the use of multiple digital platforms and encrypted communication channels, stressing the need for continued capacity building and training of law-enforcement agencies to effectively tackle emerging cyber threats.

Mr. Visezo Dahou, Faculty, Cyber Security, highlighted the scale of financial losses caused by cyber fraud in the country. Citing figures from his presentation, he said India recorded ₹22,495 crore in losses to cyber fraud in 2025, with 28.15 lakh complaints reported during the year. He said 76 per cent of the reported financial losses were attributed to fake investment and trading scams.

Mr. Dahou urged citizens to follow the simple approach of “Pause, Verify, Report” before responding to suspicious calls, messages, links or investment offers. He cautioned against guaranteed-return schemes, fake trading platforms, “digital arrest” scams, AI voice-cloning frauds, fake loan applications and APK files received through unofficial channels.

He stressed that citizens should never share OTPs, PINs, CVVs or passwords and reminded them that a UPI PIN is required to send money, not to receive it. In cases of sextortion or online blackmail, he advised victims not to pay or engage with perpetrators, but to preserve evidence and report the incident.

Emphasising the importance of immediate action, Mr. Dahou advised victims of financial cyber fraud to call 1930 without delay, contact their bank through its official helpline and report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. He also cited that ₹11,158 crore had been saved across more than 32.80 lakh complaints through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, with figures up to June 30, 2026.

The media workshop witnessed participation from local media houses, members of the Kohima Press Club, Akashvani Kohima, Doordarshan Kendra Kohima, PTI, as well as students from St. Joseph’s College and Nagaland University.

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