Nonar, a small village in Sakaldhia Block of Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, represents the socio-economic realities of much of rural India. The population is predominantly engaged in agricultural activities and daily wage labour. Many households in Nonar, like that of Reshma, are dependent on the income of male family members who work in urban centres and send remittances to support their families. Women in these households often manage finances and family affairs in the absence of their husbands, leaving them vulnerable to various forms of exploitation, including cyber fraud.
The rapid digitalisation of rural India, propelled by government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), has made internet access more widespread. However, digital literacy has not kept pace with the expansion of digital infrastructure. In villages like Nonar, residents are often unfamiliar with the risks associated with digital transactions, making them easy targets for cybercriminals. This gap between access and literacy creates fertile ground for fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
In 2024, Reshma, a housewife from Nonar, received a phone call from an individual claiming to be from Lucknow. The caller informed Reshma that she had been selected for a government housing scheme and that a house would be allotted to her within 15 days. Given the economic pressures her family faced and the desperate need for housing, Reshma was eager to believe the caller. However, the caller stipulated that Reshma would need to transfer ₹2500 to a specified bank account to process her application. Importantly, the caller urged her to keep the transaction confidential, warning that failure to do so could result in the loss of her opportunity.
Trusting the caller and driven by her family’s dire need for accommodation, Reshma transferred the money. When the promised 15 days passed without any communication from the fraudster, Reshma attempted to contact the number again, only to find it disconnected. Realising she had been defrauded, Reshma sought help from Manorama Devi, a local digital entrepreneur (Udyami) who runs a Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) centre in the village.
The fraud perpetrated on Reshma was a typical example of a phishing scam, executed over a phone call. The fraudster leveraged social engineering tactics, exploiting Reshma’s socio-economic vulnerabilities and lack of digital awareness. The fraudulent call, which falsely promised government housing benefits, was a classic method of spreading misinformation in rural areas where government welfare schemes are often a lifeline for the underprivileged.
The technology used in this incident was minimal: a simple phone call coupled with the use of a bank account to receive the money. Despite the unsophisticated nature of the fraud, it was highly effective due to the cultural context in which it occurred. Reshma’s lack of familiarity with digital transactions, combined with her trust in authority figures, made her an easy target. This highlights the critical need for greater awareness and education about the dangers of online fraud in rural communities.
After realising that she had been defrauded, Reshma turned to Manorama Devi for assistance. Manorama Devi, who had been trained in digital literacy and cyber safety by DEF, immediately recognised the situation as a case of cyber fraud. She advised Reshma to report the incident to the national cybercrime helpline (1930), which is designed to assist victims of online fraud. Manorama also shared this story with other women in the community, using the incident as a learning opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of cyber fraud and the importance of reporting such cases.
Reshma’s ordeal had a significant impact on her family and the wider community. In the immediate aftermath of the fraud, Reshma faced embarrassment and shame for having lost a significant sum of money—money that was essential for her family’s survival. For a few days, the family struggled to cope with the emotional and financial burden of the fraud. However, with support from Manorama and other women in the community, Reshma gradually recovered from the incident. Importantly, the incident became a catalyst for community-wide discussions about cyber safety, with many women becoming more cautious about digital transactions.
The primary challenge faced by Reshma and her community was their lack of digital literacy. Although internet access had become more common in rural areas like Nonar, the understanding of how to safely navigate the digital world remained minimal. This digital illiteracy, combined with socio-economic vulnerabilities, created an environment where fraudsters could easily take advantage of individuals like Reshma.
Culturally, rural communities in India often place a great deal of trust in authority figures, whether they are government officials, religious leaders, or even strangers claiming to represent the government. This trust, while valuable in maintaining social cohesion, can also be exploited by fraudsters who pose as government representatives, as was the case with Reshma. The scam exploited not only Reshma’s financial desperation but also her cultural inclination to trust those who appear to offer help from a position of authority.
The incident also highlights the gendered aspect of digital vulnerability. In rural India, women like Reshma are often responsible for managing household finances in the absence of their husbands, yet they are often excluded from opportunities to improve their digital literacy. As a result, they are particularly susceptible to cyber fraud. In Reshma’s case, the fraud led to financial loss and emotional distress, but it also served as a wake-up call for other women in the village to be more cautious about their digital interactions.
Manorama Devi and other digital facilitators employed several strategies to mitigate the effects of the cyber fraud and prevent future incidents. First, they encouraged Reshma to report the fraud to the appropriate authorities, reinforcing the importance of accountability and legal recourse in such situations. They also used the incident as an educational tool, holding informal meetings with women in the community to discuss the dangers of cyber fraud and the importance of being vigilant when receiving unsolicited phone calls or messages.
Additionally, Manorama emphasised the need for transparency in family financial matters. She encouraged women to discuss any suspicious digital interactions with their family members before taking action, thereby reducing the likelihood of falling victim to similar scams in the future. This approach helped to shift the community’s mindset towards greater caution and collective responsibility in the face of digital threats.
The cyber fraud incident involving Reshma highlights the significant challenges faced by rural communities in navigating the digital world. Despite the increasing availability of internet access, the lack of digital literacy and awareness leaves many individuals vulnerable to exploitation. In this case, Reshma’s financial loss was a direct consequence of her trust in a fraudulent caller and her lack of knowledge about how to verify digital transactions.
However, the incident also presents an opportunity for positive change. With the support of local digital facilitators like Manorama Devi, the community of Nonar has begun to learn from the incident and take steps towards greater digital awareness. By implementing digital literacy programs, raising community awareness, and fostering collaboration between local leaders and financial institutions, it is possible to reduce the risk of cyber fraud in rural areas and empower individuals to navigate the digital world safely.
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