The Curious Case of Cyber Fraud at the Grassroots in India
Devpura is a small, underdeveloped village in the Neemuch district, populated by members of the Banjara community. Like many rural areas in India, most of the population engages in subsistence farming, manual labour, or small-scale trade. The community is primarily comprised of Scheduled Tribes, with a small number of individuals from Other Backward Classes (OBC) and General categories.
While mobile phones and internet access have become increasingly common in rural India, digital literacy has not kept pace with the growing use of technology. This gap leaves individuals like Ashok susceptible to cyber fraud, as they are often unaware of how to protect themselves from online threats. Ashok’s case shows how digital vulnerabilities can severely impact marginalized individuals and communities.
Ashok, who is 80% disabled due to a leg impairment, is the sole earner in his family and seeks to improve their living conditions by saving money to build a concrete house. His physical disability combined with the socio-economic disadvantages of his community, makes it extremely challenging to secure a stable livelihood. Not having the support of the family and extended community places him in an even more precarious position. Despite facing challenges, Ashok managed to save ₹88,000 over time, showcasing his determination and hard work.
However, Ashok was unfamiliar with the dangers posed by the digital world. One day he found that his phone was hacked, and explicit images and videos were sent to his contacts without his knowledge. These obscene materials falsely appeared to be sent by Ashok himself, quickly spread through his social network. Shortly after his phone was hacked, money began to be automatically deducted from his bank account. Over a series of three transactions, a total of ₹88,000 was withdrawn in mere seconds. Before Ashok could process this, people from his contact list began calling him, hurling abusive language, and accusing him of distributing obscene content. Ashok was unaware of the hacking and extremely shocked and confused by the accusations. His social standing within the community deteriorated as the community assumed that he intentionally sent obscene messages. This soon led to horrible public shaming and banishment from the community.
In addition to the social fallout from the spread of explicit content, Ashok experienced significant financial harm which represented his entire life’s savings. The financial blow, combined with the public shaming he endured, left Ashok emotionally and psychologically devastated.
Ashok immediately approached the local police station in Ratangarh, Madhya Pradesh, to file an FIR. While the police registered the case, Ashok’s efforts to recover his stolen funds have been met with bureaucratic delays. The bank, despite being informed of the incident, has yet to return his money, leaving Ashok in a state of financial limbo. Fortunately, the Soochnapreneur of a Neighbour village came to the rescue. Upon realising that Ashok had been a victim of cybercrime, local community workers and digital literacy trainers from the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) stepped in to provide support. The team strengthened digital literacy training sessions in Devpura, to raise awareness about cyber threats and to teach individuals how to protect themselves from online fraud. Despite the challenges faced by Ashok, his case has also catalyzed greater awareness within the community. Ashok’s experience has prompted discussions within the community about the need for greater caution when using digital platforms. Soochnapreneurs who work to promote digital literacy and access in rural India, have been instrumental in educating communities about the dangers of cyber fraud and the importance of online safety.
Related posts
