NEW DELHI: As digital payments, smartphones and online government services become increasingly integrated into farmers’ daily lives, awareness of cyber fraud has emerged as an important component of rural digital literacy and Bihar is taking a proactive outreach in it.
Addressing this growing concern, Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, through its community radio station Radio Green FM 90.8 MHz, hosted a special programme on cyber safety for farmers on Friday.
The programme featured cyber security expert and author of Webkoof, Abhinav Das, who discussed common forms of cyber fraud and outlined simple precautions farmers can take to protect their money, mobile devices and personal information.
The discussion was held in the context of Cyber Secure Bihar, an awareness initiative involving Bihar Police, State Bank of India (SBI) and Intenext Solutions Private Limited, aimed at promoting safer and more responsible digital behaviour across the state.
According to a statement shared with this newspaper, Das explained cyber fraud in simple and relatable terms, drawing parallels between cyber criminals and pests that can silently damage a farmer’s hard-earned income.
The programme focused on scams that can particularly affect rural communities, including fraudulent calls relating to PM-KISAN instalments, government subsidies, agricultural schemes, fertilisers, seeds, banking services and online loans.
The discussion also highlighted the growing risks associated with Aadhaar-based and biometric-enabled payments. Farmers were advised not to share their Aadhaar details, bank information or biometric authentication with unknown persons offering to facilitate government benefits, subsidies or banking transactions.
Radio listeners were encouraged to use authorised banking channels and verify transactions before completing any biometric or Aadhaar-enabled payment.
Addressing another common misconception, Das explained that cyber fraud does not always require a victim to disclose an OTP.
"Fraudsters may also use malicious links, remote-access applications, fake customer-care numbers and impersonation calls to gain access to devices or sensitive information" he said.
The discussion also focused on calls claiming that a PM-KISAN instalment or government subsidy had been stopped. Farmers were advised not to respond to such calls by sharing personal or banking details, but instead to verify the information directly with the concerned government department, agriculture office or bank.
With social media increasingly being used to purchase agricultural products, the programme cautioned farmers against advertisements offering fertilisers, seeds and other farm inputs at unusually low prices. Listeners were advised to verify sellers carefully and avoid making advance payments to unknown individuals or unverified online platforms.
QR-code fraud was another important topic. Farmers were advised to understand the purpose of a QR transaction before scanning it and to remain alert if anyone asks them to scan a QR code on the pretext of receiving money.
Banking safety was also discussed. Listeners were reminded that legitimate bank officials do not ask customers to disclose their OTP, PIN or password over unsolicited phone calls. Precautions while using ATMs, mobile banking and public Wi-Fi were also discussed.
The programme further encouraged farmers to protect their mobile phones with screen locks, remove unnecessary applications and exercise caution while sharing Aadhaar cards, land documents, bank details and other personal information through WhatsApp or other messaging platforms.
In the event of financial cyber fraud, listeners were urged to act immediately by informing their bank and calling 1930, the national cyber fraud helpline. Early reporting can help authorities initiate timely measures to trace or freeze fraudulent transactions.
The interaction highlighted the growing importance of taking cyber safety conversations to rural communities as digital services become increasingly integrated with agriculture and everyday financial transactions.
The programme concluded with a simple message for the farming community: “Stop. Think. Verify. Then Act.”
