This case study focuses on the intervention of a SoochnaPreneur, Sumitra Bala Devi, and the impact of digital literacy efforts in the village of Pindrajora, Jharkhand. The incident centers around Renu Devi, a beneficiary who fell victim to a cyber fraud scheme. Through Sumitra Bala Devi’s efforts, part of a broader initiative aimed at mitigating cyber fraud, misinformation, and disinformation in rural areas, the community has gained a better understanding of online threats, with tangible results in preventing future incidents.
Pindrajora is a village in the Chas CD block, part of the Chas subdivision in the Bokaro district of Jharkhand. Located 15 km from Chas Bokaro and 93 km from the state capital Ranchi, the village has a population of approximately 4,000 people. The male population constitutes 55%, with a literacy rate of 50%, while the female literacy rate is significantly lower at 22%. The village is primarily inhabited by the Kurmi Mahto, Teli Mahto, Kewat, and Rajwad communities, with agriculture and cattle farming serving as the primary sources of livelihood.
Pindrajora is a rural area where residents largely rely on agriculture, cattle farming, and related activities. The village’s literacy rate, particularly among women, is low, and digital awareness is limited. These socio-economic conditions make the community vulnerable to misinformation, disinformation, and cyber fraud. Additionally, the habit of quickly trusting others, especially when it comes to financial matters, exacerbates the problem. Fraudsters often exploit this trust and lack of digital literacy to perpetrate schemes that have significant financial and emotional impacts on the victims.
In 2024, Renu Devi, a resident of Pindrajora and member of a farmer family, became a victim of a cyber fraud scheme. The fraudsters, understanding the financial needs of farmers, targeted her by offering a “bumper prize”—a tractor, something highly desirable for her family’s agricultural activities. The caller convinced her that she had won the prize and that the only formalities left were to transfer a small amount of money for the registration process.
The fraudster contacted Renu via phone, a common method for executing such schemes in rural areas, where residents often have limited access to or familiarity with the internet. The scam was carried out through a combination of phone calls and WhatsApp messages, using QR codes for payments. Renu was asked to transfer Rs 25,000 in two instalments through a QR code provided via WhatsApp, which she was told would be refunded after 15 days along with the tractor.
Despite her initial reluctance, Renu was eventually convinced and followed the fraudster’s instructions. However, when she tried to encash the check after the stipulated time, it was declared null and void by the bank. This incident left her family financially burdened and emotionally distressed, further eroding the already fragile trust in digital systems.
Sumitra Bala Devi, a SoochnaPreneur, played a pivotal role in addressing the issue of cyber fraud in Pindrajora. SoochnaPreneurs are grassroots-level digital literacy ambassadors, working to educate rural communities about online threats and empower them to protect themselves. In this case, Sumitra’s efforts were instrumental in helping Renu understand the nature of the fraud she had fallen victim to and in spreading awareness among other community members.
Sumitra’s work is part of a larger project aimed at safeguarding rural India through critical digital literacy. The initiative focuses on educating vulnerable populations about online fraud, misinformation, and disinformation, and providing practical tools and knowledge to prevent such incidents. The training sessions include role-playing exercises, local incident examples, and interactive games to help participants better understand digital literacy concepts.
The fraud targeting Renu Devi was executed through phone calls and WhatsApp, with QR codes used for the monetary transactions. This method is common in rural areas, where smartphones are increasingly accessible, but knowledge of safe online practices is limited. The fraudsters exploited Renu’s limited digital literacy and trust in seemingly authoritative figures offering financial rewards. In many cases, such fraudsters use basic technology like WhatsApp and SMS to reach victims, offering prizes or financial incentives to manipulate them into transferring money.
The community in Pindrajora, like many rural areas in India, faces several challenges when it comes to digital literacy and awareness. Women, in particular, are more vulnerable to cyber fraud due to lower literacy rates, limited access to digital devices, and the social norms that make them more susceptible to trust-based manipulation. In Renu’s case, the fraudsters took advantage of her desire to improve her family’s agricultural output by offering a tractor—a valuable asset in rural farming communities.
The lack of familiarity with digital symbols, terms, and safety protocols also contributes to the community’s vulnerability. Many residents have limited access to smartphones or rely on basic mobile phones, making it difficult for them to verify the authenticity of messages or transactions. This digital divide, combined with a strong reliance on traditional methods of communication and decision-making, creates a fertile ground for fraudsters.
Sumitra Bala Devi and other SoochnaPreneurs have been conducting regular training sessions to address these challenges. These sessions focus on practical activities, such as recognising digital symbols, understanding how online fraud works, and learning how to report incidents. The training is often conducted in small groups, tailored to the participants’ availability, with sessions held at convenient times for women who have significant domestic responsibilities.
One of the key strategies employed by Sumitra was the use of role-playing and dramatisation to make the training more relatable and engaging for the participants. For example, using masks to represent fraudsters and victims, Sumitra conducted skits to demonstrate how online fraud schemes are executed. This method proved effective in helping the community grasp the concepts and apply them in their daily lives.
The training sessions also included local examples of fraud incidents, which made the content more relevant and understandable for the participants. By using familiar stories and incidents, Sumitra was able to bridge the gap between abstract digital concepts and real-life experiences.
The impact of these awareness campaigns has been significant. Following the training sessions, Renu Devi and others in the community became more cautious about engaging with unknown callers or messages. Renu now understands the importance of verifying information before making financial transactions and has shared her experience with other community members, contributing to a broader culture of digital vigilance.
Quantitatively, the number of cyber fraud cases in Pindrajora has decreased since the initiation of the digital literacy training. Women, in particular, have become more confident in using digital devices and are better equipped to recognise potential frauds. For instance, community members now know not to share personal information or one-time passwords (OTPs) with unknown individuals, a common tactic used by fraudsters to gain unauthorised access to bank accounts.
Qualitatively, the training has led to a shift in the community’s perception of online safety. There is now a greater awareness of the dangers posed by cyber fraud, and women in the community have begun to take on leadership roles in educating others about digital literacy. This peer-to-peer learning model has further strengthened the community’s resilience to online threats.
While the awareness campaigns have been successful, they were not without challenges. One of the main difficulties was the shortage of smartphones for practice during the training sessions. Many women in the community do not own smartphones, and those who do often have limited time to participate in training due to their domestic responsibilities. To address these issues, Sumitra organised collective training sessions using laptops and scheduled the sessions during times that were more convenient for the women, such as midday or afternoon.
Another challenge was the initial resistance from some community members, particularly those who were more skeptical of digital technology or who had already experienced financial loss due to fraud. Overcoming this resistance required patience and persistence, as well as the involvement of local community leaders who could vouch for the credibility of the training.
The case of Renu Devi highlights the critical role that digital literacy plays in preventing cyber fraud in rural areas. Through the efforts of SoochnaPreneurs like Sumitra Bala Devi, communities in Jharkhand are becoming more informed and resilient in the face of online threats. By providing practical, relatable, and context-specific training, Sumitra and her peers have empowered women and other vulnerable groups to protect themselves from fraud and misinformation.
This case study underscores the importance of continued investment in digital literacy programs, particularly in rural and underserved areas. As more people gain access to digital devices and online services, the need for education and awareness will only grow. The success of the SoochnaPreneur initiative in Jharkhand serves as a model for how grassroots efforts can make a significant impact in reducing cyber fraud and enhancing digital safety in India’s rural communities.
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