Bulandshahr’s Gulaothi college hosted a major cyber fraud awareness program for 200 NCC cadets, organized by CO Vikrant Tomar with cyber cell expert Shubham Singh leading live demonstrations. The session covered UPI phishing, OTP traps, QR code swaps, and digital arrest tactics as Uttar Pradesh reports over ₹500 crore in annual cyber losses. Youth under 30 represent 40% of victims, making such training critical for future leaders who pledged to educate 50 villages through door-to-door campaigns and elder WhatsApp groups.
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Live Demos Expose Common Traps
Shubham Singh simulated phishing SMS claiming “UPI blocked—click verify,” showing how malware captures banking details silently. QR code fraud demos revealed overnight sticker swaps at shops diverting payments to scammer UPI IDs. Fake KYC calls featured fraudsters posing as bank officials demanding Aadhaar updates to avoid account freezes. Digital arrest videos proved most chilling—scammers appearing as NIA officers via video call, holding victims “under arrest” for hours while coercing UPI “fines.” Cadets practiced immediate disconnection, screenshots, and 1930 helpline reporting during role-plays.
Practical Protection Rules Drilled In
Training emphasized setting UPI daily limits to ₹5,000, enabling app locks and two-factor authentication everywhere, and never clicking unknown links. Cadets learned verifying callers through official apps, cross-checking UPI recipient names before scans, and using biometric locks over SMS OTPs. Shubham warned gaming apps and job scams target students hardest, with ₹10,000-50,000 losses common from “free gift” links or overseas work promises. Mule accounts emerged as growing threats, where unemployed youth rent bank details, unknowingly aiding larger terror networks.
SSP’s Call: NCC as Digital Warriors
SSP Anukriti Singh declared cadets “digital warriors” for Bulandshahr’s 2,000+ annual complaints, noting family elders remain most vulnerable. She connected personal stories—friends losing pocket money, cousins duped by lotteries—to statewide patterns. The cyber cell framed cybercrime as national security, referencing recent STF raids on Dubai-Georgia networks using Rajasthan mules for ₹160 crore frauds. Cadets received demo kits with sample phishing texts, fake QR codes, and scripted calls for local recreations.
Village Action Plan and Pledges
Cadets pledged no PIN/OTP sharing, daily transaction reviews, and verified warnings only. Action includes door-door camps, school sessions, and 1930 helpline banners across 50 villages. CO Tomar announced monthly cyber drills integrated into NCC parades. UP Police’s statewide outreach trained 10,000 cadets in 2025, inspired by Jharkhand’s 24-hour bank freeze ruling boosting recoveries. Suspicious link or call? Dial 1930 immediately—protection starts with prevention.
