Just AI – No Digital Justice without Social Justice
Cyber fraud is a growing menace in rural India, as rapid digitalisation outpaces the spread of digital literacy. Vulnerable communities often fall prey to sophisticated scams that exploit their limited understanding of online safety. Badla village in Jharkhand is a case in point, where a resident, Sasita Oraon, was defrauded of INR 58,000 in a scam involving promises of government subsidies and agricultural equipment.
Badla village is situated under Senha block in the Lohardaga district of Jharkhand. It is located approximately 4 kilometres west of the district headquarters and 7 kilometres from Senha block, while being 78 kilometres from the state capital, Ranchi. The village has a population of around 5,000, with women comprising 49.5% of the population. The overall literacy rate is 52.8%, and the female literacy rate is significantly lower at 21.7%.
The dominant community in Badla is the Oraon tribe, but other groups such as the Koiry, Mahto, Mahli, and Teli communities also reside in the area. The village’s socio-economic conditions are modest, with agriculture being the primary occupation. Families like Sasita Oraon’s depend on farming for their livelihoods, owning sufficient land for cultivation. However, the low literacy rate and lack of digital awareness make the villagers particularly vulnerable to cyber fraud, as fraudsters often exploit their trust and limited exposure to online security practices.
Cyber fraud is a growing concern in rural India, where rapid digitalisation is occurring without parallel advances in digital literacy. Fraudsters are increasingly targeting rural populations, exploiting their limited understanding of online safety protocols, especially among women. The socio-cultural context in these areas often places women in a position of vulnerability due to societal norms, lower literacy rates, and limited access to digital resources. This has created fertile ground for cybercriminals, who deceive individuals with promises of financial rewards, government benefits, or other enticing opportunities.
In this case, Sasita Oraon was a victim of a fraudster posing as a government official from the Chief Minister’s office, promising agricultural equipment under a government scheme. The fraud followed a common pattern of deception prevalent in rural areas, where scammers exploit the trust placed in government authorities and offer fraudulent schemes tailored to the socio-economic needs of the community, such as tractors or subsidies for farming.
In 2024, Sasita Oraon, an educated woman from Badla village, received a phone call from a person claiming to be an official from the Agriculture Department, purportedly speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren. The caller informed Sasita that her family had been selected as one of three farmers in the region to receive a tractor, based on their agricultural land records. The fraudster used language and terminology that seemed official, lending credibility to the scam.
The caller further elaborated that the tractor was part of a government scheme aimed at promoting model farmers in the region. In addition to the tractor, the government was allegedly offering deep boring services and the installation of solar systems on farms, all aimed at increasing agricultural productivity. However, to avail of these benefits, Sasita was asked to pay an initial sum of INR 8,000 for soil verification, followed by three instalments amounting to INR 50,000 for the tractor subsidy. The payments were to be made through QR codes provided via WhatsApp.
The fraudster capitalised on the urgency of the offer, warning Sasita that she must keep the information confidential, as revealing it to others could result in the benefits being transferred to another farmer. This manipulation of trust and secrecy is a common tactic in such frauds, where victims are pressured into making quick decisions without consulting others or verifying the authenticity of the offer.
Over 15 days, Sasita made three payments, totalling INR 58,000, under the belief that the tractor and other promised benefits would soon be delivered. However, after the payments were made, no further contact was received from the fraudster, and Sasita realised she had been duped. Despite her best efforts, the money was lost, and the emotional and financial toll on her family was significant.
The cyber fraud perpetrated against Sasita Oraon was carried out using a combination of phone calls and WhatsApp messages. The scammer used digital tools such as QR codes to facilitate payments, exploiting the convenience and trust associated with digital transactions in rural areas. The use of WhatsApp, a popular messaging platform in rural India, provided an easy and low-cost method for the fraudster to communicate and send payment instructions.
The scam relied heavily on psychological manipulation. By posing as a government official and using official-sounding language, the fraudster was able to build trust quickly. The promise of a tractor—an item of great value to farming families like Sasita’s—further incentivised her to comply with the fraudster’s requests. The insistence on secrecy and the sense of urgency created by the time-bound nature of the offer prevented Sasita from consulting others or taking the time to verify the scheme’s authenticity.
The immediate impact on Sasita Oraon and her family was financial. The loss of INR 58,000 was a significant blow, as this amount represented a large portion of their savings, which had been earmarked for farming investments. The emotional toll was also severe, as Sasita felt a deep sense of betrayal and shame for falling victim to the scam. In rural communities like Badla, where social ties are strong, incidents like these can also lead to social embarrassment and a loss of trust within the community.
Beyond the personal impact, such frauds also erode trust in digital technologies and government schemes. When individuals like Sasita are defrauded, it reinforces a fear of engaging with digital platforms, even when these platforms can offer significant benefits, such as access to government subsidies or financial services. This creates a cycle of digital exclusion, where vulnerable populations are hesitant to adopt new technologies due to fear of being defrauded.
In response to the growing incidence of cyber fraud, misinformation, and disinformation in rural areas, initiatives like the Rural Fact-Checking have been implemented to enhance digital literacy and resilience in these communities.
Indu Devi, a rural fact-checker in Badla village, has been instrumental in raising awareness about cyber fraud in her community. After learning about Sasita Oraon’s experience, Indu Devi began conducting regular training sessions to educate the villagers about the dangers of online fraud and the steps they can take to protect themselves. These sessions are held in small groups to ensure that participants, especially women, can engage with the material and practice new skills in a supportive environment.
The training sessions cover a wide range of topics, including recognising common types of cyber fraud, such as phishing scams and fraudulent government schemes, understanding how to use QR codes safely, and knowing when to report suspicious activity. The programme also emphasises the importance of not sharing personal information, one-time passwords (OTPs), or financial details with unknown individuals, a common tactic used by fraudsters to gain access to bank accounts.
In addition to formal training, Indu Devi uses role-playing and real-life examples to make the lessons more relatable. For instance, she narrates the story of Sasita’s experience to demonstrate how easily fraud can occur and how important it is to be vigilant. This approach not only helps the community understand the risks but also encourages them to share their own experiences and learn from each other.
One of the main obstacles is the lack of access to smartphones and other digital devices. While many rural households own basic mobile phones, fewer have access to smartphones, which limits their ability to participate fully in digital literacy training. To overcome this challenge, Indu Devi organises collective training sessions where participants can share devices or use laptops provided by the programme.
Another challenge is the availability of time for training, particularly for women, who often bear the burden of domestic responsibilities in addition to their roles in farming or other income-generating activities. Indu Devi has addressed this by offering flexible training schedules, holding sessions at times that are convenient for women, such as in the afternoons when household chores are typically completed.
Resistance to digital technology is another significant barrier. Many community members, especially older individuals, are sceptical of digital platforms and reluctant to engage with them due to previous negative experiences or a lack of understanding. Since the introduction of the fact-checking program in Badla village, there has been a noticeable reduction in the number of cyber fraud incidents. Community members are now more cautious when engaging with unknown callers or messages, and many have adopted simple but effective practices, such as verifying the authenticity of government schemes before making any payments or sharing personal information.
Women have benefited from the training, as they are now more confident in using digital devices and understanding the risks associated with online fraud. The programme has also fostered a sense of solidarity among the women, who share their experiences and support each other in staying safe online.
Indu Devi’s efforts have not only helped individual victims like Sasita Oraon recover from their experiences but have also contributed to a broader cultural shift towards digital resilience in the community. The case of cyber fraud in Badla village serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that rural communities face in navigating the digital world. However, it also highlights the power of grassroots initiatives like the rural fact-checking programme to equip vulnerable populations with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves from online fraud. Through continued education and support, digital ambassadors like Indu Devi are playing a crucial role in fostering digital literacy, resilience, and empowerment in rural India.
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