Organised by: Humanitarian Vision Foundation
Date: 08.11.2024
Location: Seminar Hall, CDCL Building, Sector 28/B, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh.
Duration: 2 hours
Target Audience: Women
Introduction
In an increasingly digital world, social media platforms have become an essential part of our
daily lives. However, this digital transformation has also brought about a rise in social media
frauds and scams, putting many individuals—especially women—at risk of online
exploitation, identity theft, and cyberbullying. In response to this growing concern, the
Humanitarian Vision Foundation conducted an awareness drive aimed at educating women
on the dangers of social media scams and providing crucial privacy guidelines to protect their online presence. The drive also focussed on mothers as it is essential to understand the
growing concern of mothers giving their mobile phones to children which in a way gives
them space to explore things. This is one of the most dangerous practices that has been
impacting the thinking level of children in today’s world. The awareness drive focused on spreading awareness about the various online frauds and
scams that disproportionately affect women and offered actionable steps for maintaining
personal security in the digital world.
Objectives of the Drive
Raise Awareness: Inform women about the different types of social media frauds, scams, and cybercrimes happening online.
Promote Online Safety: Provide practical tips and best practices for protecting personal data and maintaining privacy while using social media platforms.
Empower Women: Equip women with the knowledge to recognize scams, avoid falling victim, and safeguard their digital identities.
Foster Community Engagement: Create a space for women to share their experiences and learn from one another.
Program Overview
The event included a series of interactive sessions and discussions, led by cybersecurity experts, legal advisors, and advocacy groups. The main activities included:
1. Introduction to Online Frauds and Scams
Types of Online Frauds: Phishing, identity theft, online harassment, romance scams, investment scams, and fraudulent job offers.
How Scammers Target Women: Explaining common tactics that fraudsters use to exploit women’s vulnerabilities (e.g., fake profiles, emotional manipulation, social engineering).
Case Studies: Real-life examples of women who have fallen victim to social media scams
2. Understanding Cybersecurity and Privacy
Importance of Privacy Settings: Demonstrations on how to adjust privacy settings on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other popular platforms to limit personal information exposure.
Safe Browsing Practices: Using secure passwords, two-factor authentication,
and avoiding sharing sensitive information through unsecured channels (e.g.,
public Wi-Fi, email).
Recognizing Red Flags: How to spot suspicious activity, fake links, and
fraudulent messages.
3. Practical Steps to Protect Your Online Identity
Securing Personal Accounts: How to set strong, unique passwords and the
importance of password managers.
Handling Suspicious Links and Messages: Best practices for verifying links
and messages before engaging or providing personal information.
4. Interactive Q&A Session
Women attendees were encouraged to share their experiences and ask
questions to the experts.
Personal concerns regarding social media safety and cybersecurity were
addressed.
Key Takeaways
Stay Vigilant: Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics. It is important to be
cautious, sceptical of unsolicited messages, and to verify sources before taking action.
Secure Your Digital Footprint: Privacy settings, strong passwords, and regular updates
are essential in preventing unauthorised access to personal accounts.
Empowerment through Knowledge: By staying informed and following basic online
safety protocols, women can protect themselves from potential scams and online
frauds.
Community Support: Engaging with others through digital communities can provide
valuable insights, but always ensure that any interaction online follows safety
guidelines.
Conclusion
The Humanitarian Vision Foundation's Social Media Frauds and Scams Awareness Drive was
an essential initiative to empower women in understanding the complexities of online safety
and security. The success of the drive underscores the importance of continued education and community engagement to safeguard vulnerable individuals from online frauds. The event not only raised awareness but also inspired women to take proactive steps in protecting their online identities.
We are committed to continuing these efforts and are exploring more opportunities for
outreach to ensure that women are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to stay safe online.
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