District-wide campaign targets students, families and rural communities
Dhanbad Police and the district administration on Monday launched a five-day, district-wide cyber safety awareness campaign aimed at protecting nearly 35 lakh people from online fraud, officials said. The initiative will provide awareness sessions in schools and colleges, outreach in rural areas and public information activities across the district.
Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan said public awareness remained one of the most effective tools to prevent cybercrime. He emphasised that students and families should be made aware of how fraudsters operate and how seemingly routine requests for information or application downloads can lead to monetary and data loss.
"Public awareness is one of the most effective weapons against cybercrime," said DC Aditya Ranjan.
Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said the campaign's principal objective was to prevent residents from falling victim to diverse forms of digital deception. He outlined planned activities including special sessions in educational institutions and "night chaupals" in rural pockets to explain emerging fraud techniques and protective measures.
Materials and methods based on local FIRs
At the launch a cyber awareness booklet was unveiled. The publication was prepared using information drawn from FIRs registered in the district over the past year and identifies 30 commonly reported methods allegedly used by cybercriminals. The booklet is printed in simple Hindi and English and uses cartoons and illustrations to aid comprehension for children and first-time internet users.
The administration said two LED-equipped publicity vehicles were flagged off to travel across police station areas and screen short videos on cyber fraud and preventive steps. Awareness messages will also be displayed on hoardings, social media platforms and shared through influencers; multiplexes in the district will screen cyber safety videos during shows in the coming month, officials added.
- School and college sessions to explain fake links, OTP scams, online banking fraud and social-media related crimes.
- Night-time village meetings ("night chaupals") for rural outreach.
- Distribution of the cyber awareness booklet to government and private schools across Jharkhand.
- LED publicity vehicles, hoardings and social-media messaging to broaden reach.
Role for students and schools
The district administration has proposed that government schools nominate a "Cyber Mitra"—a student volunteer who can guide peers on basic online safety. Students will be encouraged to share cyber safety tips during morning assemblies so information can travel from schools into households.
Officials said the booklet and campaign activities are intended to be practical and local: by using examples from FIRs registered in Dhanbad, the materials focus on threats residents have actually reported. The administration has sought the education department's support to extend distribution of the booklet to schools across Jharkhand.
| Target group | Activity planned |
|---|---|
| Students | School sessions; Cyber Mitra nomination; assembly messages |
| Rural communities | Night chaupals; LED vehicle screenings |
| General public | Hoardings, social media, multiplex videos |
Both district administration and police officials stressed that awareness alone will not eliminate cybercrime but is an essential preventive measure. The campaign seeks to make residents familiar with routine tactics such as asking for OTPs, sending fake links, impersonating officials for "digital arrest" ploys, and fraudulent online banking requests so individuals can recognise and resist them.
Officials said the five-day push will be followed by continued outreach through the distributed materials and scheduled public messaging to reinforce safe online practices across Dhanbad.
