Be Ambassadors of Awareness, Fight Economic Crime: Baramati Police

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 Baramati — Knockout Digital Fraud—to educate digital users about emerging threats and best practices to safeguard their finances.

The event, hosted at Tuljaram Chaturchand College of Art, Science and Commerce, Baramati witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries including PSI Varsharani Ghate – (Pune Rural Cyber Security), Manas Sharma – (Digital Forensics and Incident Response Analyst at ShellStrong), Mr. Babar Sir – (Retired ACP), Dr. Avinash Jagtap – Principal T.C. College, Baramati.

During the session, the speakers drew attention to the rising frauds in and around Baramati—ranging from fake OTP and phishing scams to digital arrest, loan fraud, pension fraud, and other financial schemes.

Highlighting the growing threat of digital scams, Shrishail Chiwadshetti , PI – Baramati City emphasized the need for greater public vigilance. “We must recognize that any financial transaction promising unusually high returns is a red flag for fraud. Each of us has a responsibility to become ambassadors of awareness and help protect our communities from rising economic crimes,” he noted.

During the event, the cybercrime officer PSI Varsharani Ghate – (Pune Rural Cyber Security) also led an interactive session on strengthening digital safety. She explained how individuals and organizations can use modern cyber‑defence tools to safeguard themselves as cybercrime continues to expand into new and emerging domains.

The Knockout Digital Fraud programme aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s 2024 guidelines on Fraud Risk management for NBFCs, which emphasizes 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.