Navi, FACE and the Department of Telecommunications have launched a Dussehra-themed campaign highlighting ten common festive scams and practical ways for consumers to avoid them.
MUMBAI: Navi, the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment and the Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi platform have joined forces on a festive cyber-safety campaign that uses the symbolism of Dussehra to warn consumers about digital fraud. The initiative, titled “No ‘Ten’sion This Festive Season”, arrives as online shopping, digital payments and seasonal promotions gather pace across India, with the partners seeking to turn caution into a simple habit rather than a technical lesson.
The campaign is designed around ten common scams that tend to flourish during the holiday period, including fake delivery alerts, bogus shopping websites, misleading cashback offers, QR-code fraud and impersonation attempts. Navi said the short-form videos will appear on its social media channels and will pair familiar festive situations with practical tips for avoiding theft, deception and payment mistakes. The message is straightforward: pause before paying, check first before trusting and report anything suspicious rather than rushing into a transaction.
Sanchar Saathi is the consumer-facing telecom safety initiative run by the Department of Telecommunications. Its Chakshu facility lets users flag suspicious calls, SMS messages and WhatsApp communications, while the portal also allows people to check mobile connections issued in their names and block lost or stolen handsets. According to the department, reports made through the platform have helped prevent suspected cyber-fraud losses of more than Rs 5,000 crore, underlining how widely telecom-related scams have spread. Government media coverage also says the portal has now crossed 30 crore visits since its launch in May 2023, a sign of growing public use.
FACE, which the Reserve Bank of India recognises as a self-regulatory organisation for the fintech sector, is lending the campaign an industry voice focused on consumer protection and responsible digital practice. Alongside scam awareness, the initiative will promote ten safety habits, including enabling multi-factor authentication, keeping financial apps updated, reviewing app permissions and switching on transaction alerts. A separate series, “Scam or Safe? Festive Edition”, will use expert commentary to examine everyday situations and help viewers distinguish routine payments from red flags. With digital transactions now woven into the festive season, the campaign is aiming to make safer behaviour feel as natural as the celebrations themselves.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
