The Alipurduar district police are reaching out to people, especially women and senior citizens, in the ongoing Duare Sarkar camps to make them aware about various forms of cyber crime. Duare Sarkar camps have started in different parts of the district and will continue till November 30.
“We have set up a space in these venues where our men are making people aware about cyber crimes. The awareness campaign will continue in all the venues where the Duare Sarkar camps are being held,” said Y. Raghuvamshi, superintendent of police, Alipurduar, who visited a camp in the Sankosh area under Kumargram police station on Wednesday.
In the district, 1,638 camps will be held at various locations, including villages in hills and forests. For the programme, senior police officers have trained 20 officers and 50 civic volunteers to educate people about cyber crime at the camps.
“We have come across a number of cases where people were fleeced of money by fraudsters, who call them and ask them to share OTPs or click on hyperlinks. Among the victims, many are from rural areas, who receive financial assistance from the state government and are not much acquainted with internet-enabled banking practices,” said a police officer.
At the camps, the police are asking people not to share OTPs and personal and banking details with unknown callers and not to click on unverified links sent on cellphones. “Youngsters who come to the camps are being told to refrain from sharing their pictures, videos and personal details with unknown callers and on suspicious web pages. Sharing pictures and details may land them in traps,” the officer said.