Goa Police conducted two cyber-awareness programmes for around 800 Indian Navy officers, including personnel from INS Vikramaditya at the naval base in Karwar, as part of an outreach drive focused on identifying online threats and preventing cyber fraud.
The sessions were held at the request of the commanding officer of the Karwar naval base and covered common forms of cybercrime, including phishing, smishing, OTP and UPI fraud, fake investment and trading schemes, job and work-from-home scams, digital arrest frauds and online shopping fraud.
DSP Nilesh Rane, public relations officer of Goa Police, said the two programmes conducted outside Goa reached approximately 800 Navy personnel. The officers were also briefed on identity theft, social media impersonation, cyberstalking, online harassment, sextortion and other forms of financial cyber fraud.
According to Goa Police, the programme was designed to help participants recognise suspicious links, fraudulent calls and messages, fake websites and the misuse of social media platforms. The sessions also stressed the need to protect personal and financial information while using digital services.
The outreach to the naval officers formed part of a wider awareness campaign conducted by Goa Police over the past three months. During this period, the force said it reached nearly 8,100 people through 80 cyber-awareness programmes.
The police said the campaign has extended beyond conventional educational institutions. It has included dedicated sessions for colleges and universities, non-governmental organisations, clubs, semi-government organisations and other stakeholder groups.
Goa Police described cybercrime as a serious national security concern because online attacks can affect individuals as well as critical defence ecosystems. The risks highlighted during the Navy sessions included identity theft, phishing, social engineering, financial fraud and data breaches.
Participants were advised to report cyber financial fraud immediately through the National Cyber Crime Helpline, 1930, and the government portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in. The reporting channels are intended to enable prompt action after fraudulent transactions or other cyber incidents are detected.
The latest programme shows the expansion of cyber-safety outreach from public-facing awareness activities to specialised institutional groups. Goa Police said its awareness sessions will continue to cover different categories of organisations and communities as part of the ongoing campaign.
