Coimbatore, September 12, 2025: Bajaj Finance Ltd (BFL).,Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) in the private sector, and part of Bajaj Finserv, today held a cyber fraud awareness programmein Trichy- Knockout Digital Fraud – to inform digital users about different types of threats, and best practices to safeguard finances.

The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries including Krishna Moorthy, Additional Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore, in charge of Crimes Against Women and Children and Cybercrime; Praveen Kumar, Sub-Inspector of Police, Cybercrime Division, Coimbatore;
Arumugam Retired Additional Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore City; and cybersecurity experts. Krishnakumar Anandan and. Anjana

Around 75 people were part of this awareness campaign. The speakers threw light on various kinds of frauds prevalent in and around Coimbatore. The audience were informed about fake OTP fraud, Phishing Fraud, Vishing Fraud, Digital Arrest, Financial Loan fraud, Pension fraud and other frauds.

Addressing the audience, Krishna Moorthy, Additional Superintendent of Police, underscored the concerning surge in cybercrime across Coimbatore. “Coimbatore is among the leading districts in cybercrime cases,” he noted, “with nearly 50 incidents reported daily in the city and around 20 in the district.” He attributed this vulnerability to the twin triggers of greed and fear, which fraudsters exploit to deceive victims. Offering a crucial piece of advice, he urged, “Keep 1930 on speed dial. If you fall victim to cyber fraud, report it immediately to this helpline.”

Elaborating on the various types of scams prevalent in Coimbatore, Praveen Kumar, Sub-Inspector of Police, Cybercrime Division, stated, “High-return investment schemes and digital arrest scams account for a significant portion of the financial losses due to cyber fraud. In the first six months of this year alone, Tamil Nadu has recorded losses exceeding ₹1,000 crores.”
Highlighting Coimbatore’s proactive efforts in combating cybercrime, he added, “In Coimbatore city, approximately ₹49 crores has been lost to cyber fraud during the same period. We have registered 230 FIRs and arrested 35 individuals from across India. Notably, we have successfully recovered ₹14 crores from fraudsters.”

Injecting a touch of humor into the awareness campaign, Arumugam Retired Additional Superintendent of Police, quipped, “The next time a fraudster asks for your OTP, just tell them it’s 1930. Let’s join forces and knock out digital fraud together!”

The Knockout Digital Fraud programmealigns with the Reserve Bank of India’s 2024 guidelines on Fraud Risk management for NBFCs, which emphasises early detection, staff accountability, and public engagement to make the digital ecosystem safer for everyone.

The programme is focused on drawing citizens’ attention to common financial frauds committed by scammers including fake social media accounts, WhatsApp groups and websites that mimic financial companies, falsely claiming affiliation and impersonating their employees.

Speaking on the occasion, a spokesperson from Bajaj Finance Ltd, said,“The financial safety of our consumers is paramount to us. We are constantly issuing online and offline advisories, on social media platforms, as well as through on-ground interactions with citizens, encouraging everyone to be cyber safe.”

Knockout Digital Fraud offers the cyber community valuable safety tips on safeguarding personal and sensitive information. This includes refraining from sharing OTPs, PINs, clicking on suspicious emails, SMSs, links, QR codes and downloading applications from unknown sources. It includes a series of interactive workshops, digital awareness drives, and community outreach programs across major cities and towns.