DoT teams up with WhatsApp to expand Meta's ‘Scam Se Bacho’ campaign

With online scams and cyber theft on the rise, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has partnered with WhatsApp to expand ‘Scam Se Bacho,’ Meta’s safety campaign against cybercrimes. 

DoT has launched several initiatives to prevent the misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime and financial fraud. One such initiative is Sanchar Saathi, available as a portal (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in) and a mobile app, which allows people to report fraud calls and messages, check their mobile connections, and block or trace lost or stolen mobile phones.

Additionally, DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) shares information with 550 stakeholders, including banks and law enforcement agencies (LEAs), to track telecom-related fraud and take action. 

Not only that, WhatsApp and DoT will conduct training workshops for DoT officials, Sanchar Mitras, telecom service providers (TSPs), and field units to raise awareness at the grassroots level. WhatsApp will also explore ways to integrate Sanchar Saathi services into its platform, making them more accessible to users.

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Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, met Union Minister for Communications and Development of North East Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Monday to discuss the collaboration’s progress. 

"As India advances on its path of digital transformation, ensuring the safety and security of our citizens remains a top priority. Our partnership with Meta strengthens this commitment to protect our people from fraudulent communications and cyber threats. By harnessing WhatsApp’s vast digital reach, we are strengthening efforts to ensure that our digital ecosystem remains secure and resilient for all," Scindia said, according to the press release.

Kaplan highlighted Meta’s efforts in combating online fraud. “The best way to stop people falling victim to scams and online fraud is to make sure they know what to look out for and what they can do to stay safe," he added.

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To this end, WhatsApp will collaborate with DoT in creating simple and easy-to-read educational content  on fraud identification and reporting. These materials will be in various regional languages, such as Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Gujarati, to ensure they are accessed by a broader population.

With this initiative, DoT hopes to improve digital security and safeguard citizens from telecom-related fraud in a world that is ever more connected.