Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 15: Around 800 Indian Navy officers, including personnel serving aboard INS Vikramaditya at the Karwar naval base, participated in cyber awareness programmes conducted by Goa Police to sensitise them to evolving cyber threats and help prevent online fraud.

Cybercrime has emerged as a serious national security threat, targeting not only individuals but also critical defence ecosystems through identity theft, phishing, social engineering, financial fraud and data breaches.

Over the last three months, Goa Police reached out to nearly 8,100 people through 80 cyber awareness programmes.

The outreach initiative extended beyond conventional educational institutions, with dedicated sessions organised for colleges, universities, NGOs, clubs, semi-government organisations and other stakeholder groups.

"Two programmes were conducted outside Goa on the request of the commanding officer of Karwar naval base for the Navy officers on board INS Vikramaditya, reaching approximately 800 participants," said DSP Nilesh Rane, PRO of Goa Police.

The sessions covered various forms of cybercrime, including phishing and smishing attacks, OTP and UPI frauds, fake investment and trading scams, job and work-from-home frauds, digital arrest scams, online shopping frauds, identity theft, social media impersonation, cyberstalking, online harassment, sextortion and other forms of financial cyber fraud, Rane said.

Goa Police said participants were sensitised to suspicious links, fraudulent calls and messages, fake websites, misuse of social media platforms and the importance of protecting personal and financial information.

Special emphasis was also laid on the immediate reporting of cyber financial fraud through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 and the official portal www\.cybercrime.gov.in.