Cyber Crime
‘Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh’ by FCRF Wraps Up: Experts Unite to Tackle Emerging Digital Threats
The two-day event organized by Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) concludes successfully, bringing law enforcement, industry experts, and key stakeholders together to address the growing cybercrime landscape.
Lucknow – The second and final day of the highly anticipated Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh event, organized by the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) and powered by Paytm, was held today at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The event gathered key players from law enforcement, academia, and the cybersecurity industry to address the critical issues surrounding cyber threats and digital crime in the state.
Empowering Stakeholders Against Cybercrime
The event opened with a message from Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya, who lauded FCRF’s initiative for conducting the Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh program. He acknowledged the importance of such events in imparting cybersecurity training to police officers across various districts and uniting all relevant stakeholders on a single platform. Maurya stressed the state’s commitment to tackling cyber threats in today’s digital era and commended FCRF for leading this charge.
The event was supported by Resecurity, IIMT group of colleges, SysTools, ISEA program of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Uttar Pradesh Police, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and Innovation Hub,UP (AKTU).
Keynote Address: Tackling Emerging Cyber Threats
The day’s highlight was the keynote address by Dr. G.K. Goswamy, IPS, Director of the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Sciences (UPSIFS), who discussed the evolving nature of cybercrime. Dr. Goswamy shared case studies on the latest threats, including cyber slavery, digital arrest, AI-enabled crimes, and phishing schemes. His engaging presentation illustrated how cybercriminals exploit technological advancements to perpetrate crimes, often staying ahead of the law.
Dr. G.K. Goswami, IPS, Director of UP State Institute of Forensic Sciences, addresses the audience at Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh, sharing critical insights on emerging cybercrime threats like cyber slavery and AI-enabled crimes.
In particular, Dr. Goswamy’s detailed examination of cyber slavery—a growing trend where Indian citizens are lured with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, only to be forced into cybercrime operations in Southeast Asia—captivated the audience. His insights into AI-enabled crimes shed light on how artificial intelligence can be weaponized by cybercriminals, making it critical for law enforcement to stay updated on technological advancements.
Following his keynote, Rajesh Kumar Yadav, IPS, SP Cyber Crime UP, provided a deeper analysis of cyber slavery. He shared real-world examples of how unsuspecting individuals are coerced into illegal activities, painting a dire picture of the tactics used by international scam rings.
Expert Insights from Industry Leaders
The event saw participation from industry leaders who shared their expertise in combating cybercrime and protecting digital ecosystems.
- Arun Shankar Chandrasekaran, Vice President of Operations & Fraud Risk for Payments and Lending along with Parijat Tiwari, Sr Vice President – Merchant Ops and Risk at Paytm, gave a compelling presentation on the rising threat of financial fraud and the solutions available to combat this growing issue. He highlighted the increasing sophistication of fraudsters and urged the financial industry to collaborate in mitigating risks.
- Santosh Khadsare, Chief Technology Officer for Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) at SysTools, delivered an engaging session on digital forensics and incident response strategies, emphasizing the need for effective tools and frameworks to investigate and resolve cyber incidents efficiently.
Panel Discussions: Collaborative Solutions for Law Enforcement
One of the most impactful sessions of the day was the panel discussion on the challenges faced by law enforcement in digital investigations. The panel featured top cybersecurity experts and law enforcement officers, including:
- Vivek Ranjan Rai, ACP, Noida
- Muslim Khan, Cyber Wing, PHQ
- Anoop Yadav, Cyber Wing, PHQ
- Naveen Singh, Cybersecurity Expert
- Avinash Kumar Singh, Research Scholar
The panelists discussed real-life challenges encountered by law enforcement while investigating digital crimes, such as cross-border collaboration, encryption, and the need for constant skill upgrades. The consensus was clear: for effective law enforcement, there must be collaboration between the private sector, academia, and governmental bodies.
Protecting Women and Children Online
In a special session on the online safety of women and children, speakers highlighted the dangers posed to vulnerable populations in the digital age. Key speakers for this session included:
- Mehnaz Perveen, Vice President of Trust & Safety at PayTM
- Dr. Manini Srivastava, Assistant Professor at the University of Lucknow
- Rahul Mishra, Cybersecurity Expert
- Prof. Triveni Singh, Chief Mentor, FCRF
- Shivendra Kumar Singh, Senior Security Engineer at Incedo
- Alok Verma, Cybersecurity Researcher at Avenir Innovative Solutions
The panel discussed the rising cases of cyber harassment, online exploitation, and grooming, emphasizing the need for education and tools to help women and children protect themselves from cybercriminals.
Securing Critical Infrastructure and Combating Financial Fraud
The event also addressed the critical issue of securing the state’s vital infrastructure against cyber threats. During the session on Rising Financial Fraud and Securing Critical Infrastructure, speakers from different sectors shared strategies for safeguarding financial institutions and other essential services. The panel included:
- Ravi Chandra Yadav, Faculty Member (AGM), BIRD, Lucknow
- Manoj Kumar Kushwaha, Manager IT, HDFC Education and Development Services Pvt. Ltd.
- Ashish Verma, Zonal Manager – North-East, Fraud Prevention Unit, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
- Sameep Agarwal, Founder & CISO, Triune Digital Security
- Ashutosh Kumar, Security Architect II
Each speaker emphasized the urgent need to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, highlighting that a single security breach could lead to devastating consequences for the state’s economy and safety.
Building a Cyber-Resilient Future
The event concluded with an overarching message: cybersecurity is not the responsibility of any one group but requires the collective effort of law enforcement, industry experts, and the general public. The Future Crime Research Foundation successfully brought these groups together to foster collaboration and inspire action. The participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to fighting the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh was a testament to the power of collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by the digital world, proving that by working together, the state can build a more secure and resilient future.