Chandan Singh Banjara, Age-36,Chakdeopur
“In the midst of rising digital crime, a wave of unemployment had swept across the nation, with news of digital thieves echoing from every corner. “Chor hue berozgaar, Digital Choro ki aayi hai baadh harr taraf hai yahi samachar,” proclaimed the headlines.”
Amidst this chaos, a journalist embarked on a journey to Alwar, Rajasthan, determined to unravel the stories of fraud and misinformation that plagued the communities.
Their first stop was Raybaka village, where they met Irfan Khan, a SoochnaPrenuer serving his community as an Information Provider. Irfan shared the harrowing tale of falling victim to a fraudulent incident, where a trickster made a payment through UPI from an account involved in a fraud case. The aftermath not only affected Irfan’s financial stability but also left his account frozen.
Moving on, Monika (District Coordinator) narrated the story of Irshad in the same village. Irshad unwittingly lent his laptop to someone, granting access to his ID and password. This led to the perpetrator sending inappropriate messages to Irshad’s contacts, causing him immense mental distress. To stop the harassment, Irshad found himself paying a ransom, contemplating relocating his center to escape the digital troubles.
Further exploration took them to Kakrali village, where children engaged in OLX fraud, deceiving online buyers for substantial daily earnings. Fake calls about parcels had villagers on edge, eroding their confidence in ordering online.
It concluded with a series of interactions with community members and service providers, shedding light on the profound impact of fake news and misinformation.
Day two, November 26, 2023, coincided with the election day in Rajasthan. Riding on Monika’s moped bike, the journalist and the crew embarked on a journey to meet Poonam in Untwal village. This marked a special event as the DEF’s Delhi office team and CNN crew arrived to document stories of misinformation.
Cameras rolled as they captured the community’s reality and the spread of fake news on election day. False information had a significant impact, prompting many women to stay indoors out of fear generated by misleading news. Villagers refrained from voting, influenced by misinformation suggesting potential riots and chaos.
In the midst of elections in Alwar, Rajasthan, the pervasive threat of misinformation showcased far-reaching consequences on people’s behavior, even during significant events like elections. The battle against digital crime had become an integral part of the daily lives of the residents, shaping their choices and impacting their sense of security.
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