Posted by
-
Workshop
-
Summer Research Internship Program (SRIP)
-
Summer Internship Program
-
SLRI
-
SEE Learning
-
QS Rankings
-
Pre-Placement Offer (PPO)
-
phd
-
pgdm bda
-
Opportunities
-
nova sbe
-
MDP
-
Marketing
-
IDA
-
Goa Institute of Management
-
GiveGoa
-
GIM Alumni
-
fpm non residential
-
Fpm
-
Executive fpm
-
Event
-
Dual Degree Programmes
-
Dual Country
-
Dr. Hanish Rajpal
-
Doctoral
-
CSSA
-
CPPG
-
Convocation
-
Conference
-
Co-LIFE
-
Campus Placement
-
Alumni Success Stories
-
Alumni Reunions
-
Alumni Relations
-
Alumni Office
-
Alumni Impact
-
Alumni Events
-
Alumni Engagement
-
Alumni
-
Admissions
-
achievement
-
#pgdm
-
#mba
Date
Project SHIELD – Digital Frauds Awareness Workshop
Share this blog
Goa Institute of Management hosted Project SHIELD, an awareness workshop conducted by India Today Group on 30th January 2026, as part of its national initiative to combat rising cases of digital fraud and cybercrime. The session aimed to educate young adults on the methods used by cyber scammers, the psychological tactics behind frauds, and practical steps to safeguard personal and financial data in an increasingly digital world. The workshop was designed as an interactive, discussion-driven session, moving away from a conventional lecture format to actively engage participants through real-life stories, live demonstrations, quizzes, and question-and-answer interactions.
Session Overview and Flow
The workshop was conducted by an India Today cyber expert, who drew from investigative research and real scam cases encountered across India. The speaker began by gauging students’ familiarity with scam calls and online fraud, initiating a discussion on whether one should engage with or immediately disconnect scam calls.
The session unfolded across four broad themes:
• Understanding how scams work
• Recognising scammer psychology
• Digital hygiene and data protection
• Awareness tools and preventive practices
Understanding Scams and Scammer Behaviour
Participants were introduced to the evolving nature of scams, with emphasis on how scammers reinvent themselves every few months. Examples discussed included:
• Fake calls claiming to be from police or investigative agencies (CBI, cyber cell)
• “Digital arrest” threats
• KYC update frauds
• Lottery and lucky draw scams (e.g., fake KBC messages)
• Emergency WhatsApp messages impersonating friends or relatives
A key insight shared was that scammers do not target everyone; instead, they aim for the small percentage of individuals who panic, hesitate, or comply under pressure.
Psychology of Scammers
The speaker highlighted common psychological triggers used by fraudsters:
• Fear: Threats of legal action, arrest, or account suspension
• Greed: Unrealistic rewards like “double your money” schemes
• Authority: Pretending to be police officers or government officials
• Trust and Emotion: Posing as friends or relatives in emergencies
Students were encouraged to cross-question callers confidently, asking simple factual questions such as:
• Official designation and office address
• Name of organisation head
• Jurisdiction or department details
Such questioning often exposes scammers as they rely heavily on scripts and lack factual depth.
Data Security and Digital Hygiene
A major portion of the workshop focused on protecting personal data, particularly in cases of phone theft or data breaches.
Key recommendations included:
• Prioritising data security over device recovery when a phone is lost
• Locking sensitive apps (WhatsApp, gallery, email, banking apps)
• Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Using password managers such as Google Password Manager or 1Password
• Avoiding common passwords using names, dates of birth, vehicle numbers, or relationships
• Using fake email IDs and dates of birth for non-critical services
The speaker also advised participants to:
• Keep extremely sensitive passwords offline (e.g., written in a secure diary)
• Avoid saving all passwords in browsers
Data Breaches and Card Safety
Students were introduced to the website “Have I Been Pwned”, which allows users to check whether their email IDs have been involved in known data breaches. A live demonstration reinforced the scale and inevitability of data leaks, even from trusted platforms.
Regarding card security, critical warnings included:
• Most international transactions do not require OTP or PIN, only CVV
• Blocking or limiting international transactions via banking apps
• Covering or scratching out CVV numbers after memorising them
• Never handing over cards or devices out of sight during transactions
The session explained India’s SMS header classification system, which helps distinguish genuine messages:
- G – Government
- S – Service-related
- T – Transactional
- P – Promotional
This practical insight enabled participants to quickly assess whether a message is likely legitimate, spam, or potentially fraudulent.
Interactive Quiz and Engagement
The workshop concluded with a live quiz hosted via Slido, where participants answered five scenario-based questions related to scams and online safety. The quiz tested real-time decision-making and reinforced key learnings. The fastest and most accurate participants were rewarded with India Today merchandise, adding a competitive and engaging element to the session.
Key Takeaway and Message
In the closing remarks, the speaker emphasised that while students are often digitally aware, parents, grandparents, and other family members remain vulnerable. Participants were urged to act as knowledge multipliers, sharing learnings with their families and social circles.
The session underscored that:
• Financial losses due to scams are often irreversible
• Panic is the scammer’s strongest weapon
• Awareness and calm decision-making save both money and emotional distress
