Kohima: Nagaland is no longer off-limits for cyber criminals. Atoshe Lohe, a forensic analyst at NIELIT Kohima, issued this warning during a Cyber Suraksha Abhiyan event on August 21. Cyberspace has no borders. Everyone is a potential target. Lohe stressed that digital awareness is the only reliable shield against sophisticated scams.
Fraudsters are now impersonating financial institutions and pushing fake investment schemes. Lohe specifically warned against downloading unverified software. Remote-access tools like AnyDesk allow thieves to hijack devices and steal data. He urged the public to download applications only from official sources and to remain vigilant when granting system access.
Reporting speed is everything. Lohe noted that victims have a window of golden hours to recover lost funds. He pointed to the Ministry of Home Affairs' National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and its Money Restoration and Grievance Redressal modules, launched in April 2026, as essential tools for victims.
The financial toll is staggering. Visezo Dahou, a cybersecurity faculty member at NIELIT, reported that India lost Rs 22,495 crore to cyber fraud in 2025 across 28.15 lakh complaints. Fake trading and investment scams accounted for 76 percent of those losses. Dahou advised citizens to follow a simple mantra: Pause, Verify, Report. He also warned against AI voice-cloning, digital arrest scams, and suspicious APK files.
Dahou reminded attendees that a UPI PIN is only for sending money, never for receiving it. He also advised victims of sextortion to preserve evidence and refuse to pay blackmailers. According to data up to June 30, 2026, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System has saved Rs 11,158 crore.
Andrew Lalchhandama of the Press Information Bureau said the workshop aims to promote cyber hygiene among students and the public. Journalists and students from St Joseph’s College Jakhama and Nagaland University attended the session. If fraud strikes, victims must call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 immediately.
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