- By News Desk
- Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:07 PM (IST)
- Source:JNM
Senior citizens in Lucknow and Meerut, two major cities in Uttar Pradesh, attended a digital safety training webinar on Wednesday. The event, titled 'Digital Safety for Senior Citizens: Sach Ke Sathi', was a collaboration between Jagran New Media and Vishvas News under Google's 'DigiKavach' initiative. The webinar's primary goal was to protect senior citizens from rising online fraud and scams by raising awareness about key preventive measures. The Meerut session was supported by the Sambhavna Samiti, and the Lucknow session by the Rajni Care Foundation.
During the Meerut webinar, Vishvas News Associate Editor Ashish Maharishi and Deputy Editor Devika Mehta detailed the workings of online fraud. Maharishi explained that online scammers are increasingly targeting senior citizens and that these cases are on the rise. He specifically cautioned that cybercriminals often send phishing links disguised in tempting messages, especially during festivals. He stressed that the safest defense is never to click on unsolicited or suspicious links.
Devika Mehta then highlighted the importance of robust account security, demonstrating how to create strong passwords using the Google Password Manager. She also introduced Google Passkey as an easy and secure alternative, explaining that it uses a fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock for login, thus significantly securing online accounts.
The training comprehensively informed participants about the rapidly increasing threat of cybercrime and fraud. It provided a detailed overview of Google's 'DigiKavach' program and its objectives, detailing various common online scam methods and providing practical, actionable prevention strategies.
RK Gupta, founding member of the Sambhaavna Samiti in Meerut, praised the initiative, stating that such digital safety training is essential for senior citizens to effectively protect themselves.
Separately, in Lucknow, Deputy Editor Devika Mehta provided digital security tips, emphasizing that vigilance is key to avoiding online fraud. Senior Sub Editor Jyoti Kumari then addressed the emerging threat of AI-assisted online fraud, specifically warning against deepfake videos of celebrities asking for investments—a common new tactic used by cybercriminals.
Devendra Mohan, founder of the Rajni Care Foundation in Lucknow, concluded by noting that since the elderly are easy targets for cyber fraudsters, being informed and vigilant is the best defense against all types of scams.
About the 'Digital Safety for Senior Citizens: Sach Ki Sathi' Campaign
The campaign, led by teams from Jagran Digital and Vishvas News, is providing nationwide training through seminars and webinars. The comprehensive initiative is currently underway in 30 cities across 20 states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and others. Through this effort, which is a part of Google's 'DigiKavach' initiative, the goal is to equip people across India to recognize and effectively avoid online scams and fraud.
For more information, visit: jagran.com/digikavach
