Akancha Srivastava Foundation

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The post Why Smart People Still Fall For Scams! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

How To Report Cyber Crimes In India: Act Fast, Report Correctly

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:40:34 +0000

Cyber crime can happen to anyone. A fake payment link. A suspicious call. A hacked account. A fraudulent transaction. A blackmail message. A fake profile. A manipulated victim.

The first reaction is usually panic.

The correct reaction should be reporting.

India has a formal cyber crime reporting mechanism. The two most important reporting channels are:

Call 1930 for financial cyber fraud.
File the complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in.

Fast reporting helps law enforcement and financial institutions act faster, especially in cases where money has been transferred through fraud.

1. Call 1930 Immediately For Financial Cyber Fraud

If money has been taken from your bank account, UPI, card, wallet, or payment app through fraud, call 1930 immediately.

This helpline is meant for urgent reporting of cyber financial fraud.

Keep these details ready before calling:

Bank, wallet, UPI app, or merchant name
Transaction ID or UTR number
Date and time of transaction
Amount lost
Phone number, email ID, website, app, or profile used by the fraudster
Your mobile number linked to the account

Every minute matters in financial fraud cases. The sooner you report, the better the chance of quick action.

2. File A Complaint On The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal

After calling 1930, file a detailed complaint on the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in.

Use the portal for:

Financial cyber fraud
Social media crimes
Hacking
Online impersonation
Fake profiles
Threats, blackmail, or harassment
Crimes against women and children
Suspicious websites, apps, emails, numbers, and social media handles

The complaint should be clear, factual, and complete.

3. Keep Evidence Ready Before Filing

Evidence is critical. Save everything before it disappears.

Keep these ready:

Screenshots of chats, emails, profiles, payment requests, websites, and apps
Transaction messages and bank statements
UPI IDs, wallet IDs, merchant details, and transaction IDs
Phone numbers, email IDs, links, social media handles
Call logs, SMS messages, WhatsApp chats, Telegram handles
Any document, image, or proof connected to the incident

Avoid deleting chats or messages. Avoid engaging further with the fraudster. Preserve the trail.

4. Write The Complaint Properly

A strong complaint is simple and factual.

Include:

What happened
When it happened
Where it happened online
How the person contacted you
What link, app, account, number, or profile was used
What amount was lost, if money was involved
What evidence you have
Whether you called 1930
Whether your bank or payment app has been informed

Avoid assumptions. Avoid emotional exaggeration. Write the sequence clearly.

5. Save The Complaint ID

After submitting the complaint, save the acknowledgement number or complaint ID.

Take a screenshot. Save the SMS or email confirmation. Keep the number safely for follow-up, tracking, bank communication, and police reference.

6. Inform Your Bank Or Payment Platform

For financial fraud, also contact your bank, card provider, wallet, UPI app, or payment gateway.

Ask them to:

Block further unauthorized transactions
Freeze the affected account or card if required
Register a fraud complaint
Share a service request number
Confirm the action taken

This creates an additional record of your complaint.

7. Use The Track Complaint Option

After filing, track your complaint through the portal using your acknowledgement number.

If more information is requested, provide it quickly. Delayed responses can slow down action.

8. Report Suspicious Details Too

Even if you have avoided becoming a victim, suspicious details can still be reported.

Report suspicious:

Phone numbers
WhatsApp numbers
Telegram handles
Email IDs
Website links
App links
Social media URLs
SMS headers

This helps build intelligence around cyber crime attempts and repeat offenders.

9. For Emergency Threats, Contact Local Police

For immediate danger, threats, stalking, blackmail, physical risk, or urgent safety concerns, contact local police immediately.

Cyber reporting is important. Personal safety comes first.

Final Word

Cyber crime reporting works best when victims act quickly and submit accurate information.

Call 1930 for financial cyber fraud.
File the complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in.
Keep screenshots, transaction details, phone numbers, links, and complaint IDs safe.

Faster reporting helps faster action.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat

The post How To Report Cyber Crimes In India: Act Fast, Report Correctly appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Parents overshare, children pay the price!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:43:14 +0000

Many parents post about their children with love, pride, and innocence.

A school photo, birthday post, dance video, location check-in, uniform picture, hospital update, travel plan, daily routine, or emotional family moment may feel harmless in the moment. Online, it is not always harmless. It can become a data point.

This is where risk begins.

Children today are growing up with a digital identity being built for them before they are old enough to understand privacy, consent, reputation, or online danger. Every public post can reveal details that strangers do not need to know. A child’s name, face, age, school, routine, hobbies, location, family pattern, emotional vulnerability, or daily environment can all be pieced together over time.

Oversharing gives outsiders access to information they have not earned. That information can be misused for stalking, impersonation, grooming, bullying, fake familiarity, social engineering, identity misuse, and long-term digital profiling. What looks like a sweet family post to a parent can look like useful intelligence to the wrong person.

This is not about asking parents to stop loving their children publicly. It is about asking them to understand that digital exposure has consequences.

A child in school uniform reveals institution details.
A birthday post reveals age.
A vacation update reveals location and absence from home.
A daily routine post reveals pattern.
A video from inside the house reveals surroundings.
A proud achievement post may reveal full name, school badge, or personal identifiers.
Taken together, these details create a map of the child’s life.

The danger is not only immediate. It is also long-term.

Children may grow up and feel violated by the digital footprint created for them without consent. Posts made in childhood can affect dignity, emotional safety, peer relationships, and future reputation. Once personal content is online, control is never absolute. Even deleted content may have already been saved, shared, screenshotted, copied, or archived by others.

Parents must understand one clear truth. Protection today includes digital protection.

Before posting anything about a child, ask:
Does this reveal identity, school, location, routine, or vulnerability?
Would I be comfortable if a stranger saved this?
Would my child be comfortable with this later?
Is this post for memory, or for public attention?
Does this protect the child, or expose the child?

Responsible parenting now includes responsible posting.

Keep accounts private where possible.
Avoid showing school names, uniforms, ID cards, addresses, travel plans, and routine patterns.
Do not post children in distress, illness, punishment, or emotionally vulnerable moments.
Do not share content that can embarrass them later.
Teach children that privacy matters, and model that behaviour yourself.

A child’s safety is more important than a post.
A child’s dignity is more important than online engagement.
A child’s digital future should not be built carelessly by adults in the present.

Oversharing is not always done with bad intent.
The damage still happens when caution is missing.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Parents overshare, children pay the price! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

That WhatsApp Message Is A Lie!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 06:00:17 +0000

Wait before you respond to that WhatsaApp message!

WhatsApp impersonation frauds using display picture and name cloning are among the fastest-growing cybercrime tactics in India. These scams succeed because they exploit familiarity, trust, and emotional urgency rather than technical hacking. (Social engineering)

Criminals are not breaking into WhatsApp accounts. They are copying identities. The scam works because the message looks like it is coming from someone the victim already knows.

This video explains exactly how WhatsApp cloning frauds operate, why victims transfer money within minutes, and how criminals exploit social and family trust.

HOW WHATSAPP IMPERSONATION FRAUD WORKS

Fraudsters first collect publicly available information. This includes profile photos, names, family relationships, and communication patterns from WhatsApp display pictures, social media profiles, and group chats.

Using this information, the criminal creates a new WhatsApp account with a different phone number. They copy the victim’s contact’s name and profile picture exactly. To the receiver, the chat appears authentic at first glance.

The criminal then sends an urgent message such as
“I have changed my number.”
“I am in a meeting, need help urgently.”
“My UPI is not working, can you transfer money?”

The message is designed to prevent verification. Victims are told not to call and to act quickly.

WHY PEOPLE FALL FOR THIS SCAM

The scam relies on trust, not technology.
The profile picture matches.
The name matches.
The tone sounds familiar.

Victims assume authenticity because the message appears in a private chat, not a public platform. This false sense of security leads to immediate payment without cross-checking.

Money is usually requested through UPI or bank transfer. Once sent, it is moved instantly through mule accounts.

COMMON TARGETS

Family members
Senior citizens
Office colleagues
Business owners
Domestic help employers

This scam spreads rapidly through family WhatsApp groups and workplace networks.

WHY THIS IS NOT A WHATSAPP HACK

No account takeover occurs.
No OTP is stolen.
No device is compromised.

This is identity impersonation using social engineering. That is why two-step verification alone does not stop it if behaviour is not corrected.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU RECEIVE SUCH A MESSAGE

Do not transfer money based on a text message.
Always verify by calling the person on their old number.
Ask a personal question only the real person can answer.

If money is sent, report immediately on
https://cybercrime.gov.in

Delay reduces recovery chances.

WHY REPORTING IS CRITICAL

Every unreported case allows criminals to reuse the same profile image, name, and script to target dozens of people. Reporting helps freeze accounts and trace transaction chains.

Silence enables scale.

📢 Spread awareness—SHARE this video to protect others from WhatsApp impersonation frauds.
🔹 Follow for expert cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation. Together, we build a safer online world.

🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

https://cybercrime.gov.in

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post That WhatsApp Message Is A Lie! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Your Bank Account Is Not Frozen!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:12:53 +0000

Wait, before you click that bank free notice link!

Fake bank account freeze alert scams are engineered to trigger panic and immediate financial loss. These scams are spreading rapidly across India and are designed to make victims act before thinking.

Victims receive SMS messages, WhatsApp alerts, emails, or automated calls claiming their bank account has been frozen or will be blocked within minutes due to KYC failure, suspicious activity, or regulatory compliance issues. The message is deliberately short, urgent, and threatening.

The alert instructs the victim to click a link, call a number, or complete verification immediately to avoid account suspension. This is where the fraud begins.

When the victim responds, the scammer impersonates a bank official or automated verification system. The victim is guided to share OTPs, card details, or approve UPI collect requests under the excuse of restoring account access. In some cases, victims are redirected to fake banking pages that look identical to real bank portals.

Money is transferred out instantly. Accounts are sometimes drained in multiple transactions within minutes. Victims often realise the fraud only when the scammer disconnects and the number becomes unreachable.

This scam works because it attacks a core fear. Loss of access to money. Criminals rely on urgency, authority, and confusion. Victims are told that delay will lead to permanent blocking, penalties, or legal action.

Common triggers used in these scams include
KYC not updated warnings
Suspicious transaction alerts
Regulatory compliance notices
Account freeze under RBI guidelines claims

None of these alerts are sent via random links or WhatsApp messages. Banks do not ask for OTPs, PINs, or payments to unblock accounts. RBI does not issue individual account freeze messages.

What people must do to protect themselves is clear and immediate.

Never click links or call numbers received in account freeze or KYC messages.
Never share OTPs, PINs, card details, or approve UPI requests to “restore” access.
Always check account status only through the bank’s official app or by visiting the branch directly.
Type the bank’s website manually instead of using links from messages.
If an alert creates urgency or threatens immediate action, assume it is fraud and disengage.
Save your bank’s official helpline number in advance and use only that number.
Inform family members, especially senior citizens, that no bank unblocks accounts over calls or messages.

If you receive such an alert, do not click, do not call back, and do not share any details. Check your account only through your bank’s official app or branch. If money has already been transferred, report immediately on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

📢 Spread awareness—SHARE this video to protect others too.
🔹 Follow for more expert cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation. Together, we build a safer online world!

🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

https://cybercrime.gov.in

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Your Bank Account Is Not Frozen! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Fake Police FIR Messages Are Ruining Lives

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:29:25 +0000

Fake Police FIR Messages are rampant in India.

Fake police FIR messages and court notice scams have emerged as a high-impact cybercrime tactic across India. These scams are engineered to trigger fear, urgency, and blind compliance by impersonating law enforcement and judicial authorities.

Victims receive WhatsApp messages, SMS, emails, or calls claiming that an FIR has been registered against them for serious offences such as cybercrime, money laundering, illegal content, or financial fraud. The message often carries forged FIR copies, police letterheads, case numbers, or court seals to appear legitimate.

This video explains how these scams operate, why people panic instantly, and how criminals extract money or personal data within minutes.

HOW THIS SCAM OPERATES IN REAL SCENARIOS

Fraudsters first acquire basic personal information such as name, phone number, or Aadhaar-linked details through data leaks, phishing, or open databases. This information is used to personalise the threat.

The victim then receives a message stating that an FIR has been filed and immediate action is required. The message warns of arrest, account freezing, passport cancellation, or legal consequences if the victim does not respond.

In many cases, the message includes a forged FIR document, police station name, or court notice. Victims are instructed to call a number or join a WhatsApp or video call for “verification.”

Once contact is established, the criminal impersonates a police officer or legal authority. Victims are told the matter can be “resolved” quietly by paying a fine, verification fee, or settlement amount. Payments are demanded via UPI, wallets, or bank transfer.

WHY VICTIMS PANIC AND COMPLY

The scam relies on fear of law enforcement and social stigma. The threat of arrest or a criminal record overrides rational thinking. Victims are pushed to act immediately and warned not to inform family members or lawyers.

This psychological pressure is deliberate. The longer a victim pauses, the weaker the scam becomes. Speed is the criminal’s advantage.

COMMON VARIATIONS OF THIS SCAM

WhatsApp messages claiming FIR registration
Fake cybercrime or police summons
Court notice PDFs sent via email
Video calls using police uniforms and fake backgrounds
Threats of immediate arrest or account freezing

WHY THESE MESSAGES ARE ALWAYS FAKE

Police do not serve FIRs or summons through WhatsApp.
Courts do not demand payments over calls or UPI.
No legal authority resolves criminal cases through private settlements.

Any message demanding money to “close” a case is a fraud.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU RECEIVE SUCH A MESSAGE

Do not panic. Do not reply.
Do not click links or download documents.
Do not make any payment.

Take screenshots of the message, number, documents, and call logs.
Report immediately on the National Cyber Crime Portal.

If needed, verify directly with your local police station using official contact details, not the number sent to you.

WHY REPORTING MATTERS

These scams survive because victims remain silent due to fear or embarrassment. Reporting helps trace numbers, freeze accounts, and prevent others from being targeted.

A fake FIR message today can turn into financial loss or identity misuse tomorrow if ignored.

📢 Spread awareness—SHARE this video to protect others from falling into police impersonation scams.
🔹 Follow for expert cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation. Together, we build a safer online world.

🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Fake Police FIR Messages Are Ruining Lives appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Thank you ADG Navniet Sekera Sir

Akancha Srivastava — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:52:29 +0000

When Law Enforcement Stands With Cyber Safety, Citizens Listen

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Akancha Srivastava (@akanchas)

साइबर क्राइम जागरूकता अभियान से जुड़ने और लगातार अच्छे कामों को बढावा देने के लिए आपका आभार, हमारी कोशिश है कि बच्चे, बूढ़े, सभी को साइबर क्राइम से बचाएँ, उनको एक सुरक्षित ऑनलाइन स्पेस उपलब्ध हो… हमने 250/300 वीडियो और पॉडकास्ट इस विषय पर किए हैं… सब से अनुरोध है कि उन्हें देखे और सतर्क रहें

जय हिंद, जय भारत 🇮🇳

We are deeply grateful to ADG Navniet Sekera Sir (UP Police) for acknowledging the work of Akancha Srivastava Foundation and for extending his support to our cyber safety mission. His encouragement strengthens our resolve to continue building awareness, guiding citizens, and supporting victims with dignity and clarity.

Cyber safety cannot become a national movement through information alone. It needs trust. It needs credibility. It needs institutions that citizens already respect to stand beside the message and help carry it forward.

At Akancha Srivastava Foundation, our work has always been rooted in one belief: cyberspace must become safer for every citizen. Children, parents, students, professionals, senior citizens, women, families, and first-time digital users all face risks that are often confusing, fast-moving, and deeply personal. A cybercrime incident is rarely just a technical problem. It can become a financial crisis, a reputational threat, a family emergency, a mental health burden, or a legal challenge.

This is why cyber safety awareness must be practical, credible, and accessible.

We are deeply grateful to ADG Navniet Sekera for supporting cyber crime awareness and for consistently encouraging meaningful public-safety work. When senior law enforcement leaders lend their voice to cyber safety, the message reaches citizens with greater seriousness. It also helps remove the fear and hesitation that many victims feel when they need to seek help.

For years, people have suffered silently after facing online blackmail, financial fraud, cyber stalking, image misuse, impersonation, bullying, and digital threats. Many do not know where to report. Many are afraid of being judged. Many assume that nothing can be done. Many delete evidence in panic. Many delay action until the damage has multiplied.

Awareness can change that.

A citizen who knows what to do in the first hour after a cyber incident is already safer. A parent who understands online grooming patterns can protect a child earlier. A student who knows that screenshots, URLs, phone numbers, payment trails, and chat records matter is better prepared to report correctly. A senior citizen who understands OTP fraud is less likely to be manipulated by a fake caller. A young woman facing image-based abuse may feel less alone if she knows that the law, reporting systems, and support pathways exist.

This is the difference between fear and informed action.

Cybercrime is not limited to one age group, one profession, or one region. It affects people across the country. The threats are constantly evolving. Fraudsters use social engineering, urgency, emotional pressure, fake identities, compromised links, morphed images, cloned voices, and convincing digital deception. Technology has given criminals scale, speed, and anonymity. Public awareness must therefore become equally strong, equally consistent, and equally widespread.

That is where police-supported awareness becomes critical.

Law enforcement is often the first formal system a victim turns to after a cyber incident. For citizens to approach the system with confidence, they need to understand that cybercrime is real, reportable, and serious. They need to know that silence helps offenders. They need to know that shame should never stop them from seeking help. They need to know that evidence must be preserved. They need to know that early reporting improves the possibility of action.

When officers and public safety leaders encourage cyber awareness, they strengthen public confidence. They remind citizens that prevention and reporting are both part of safety. They also reinforce that cybercrime is not a private embarrassment; it is a public protection issue.

Akancha Srivastava Foundation has worked for years to simplify cyber safety for citizens. Our workshops, public campaigns, school programmes, corporate awareness sessions, law enforcement training, and victim support work are all designed to make complex digital risks understandable. We speak to people in language they can act on. We explain what the threat looks like, how it begins, what mistakes to avoid, and where to seek help.

Our focus has always been prevention-led. We want citizens to recognise danger before harm occurs. We want families to talk openly about online risk. We want schools to treat cyber safety as a life skill. We want institutions to train their teams before a crisis. We want victims to receive structured guidance instead of panic, stigma, or confusion.

The support of respected law enforcement leaders strengthens this mission.

It tells citizens that this work matters.

It tells parents that cyber safety is no longer optional.

It tells young people that online conduct has real-world consequences.

It tells victims that they are not powerless.

It tells institutions that awareness cannot be postponed.

The digital world is now part of every home. Children learn online. Families communicate online. People bank online. Professionals work online. Citizens access services online. Relationships begin and break online. Reputations are built and attacked online. Money moves online. Evidence exists online.

Safety must therefore move online too.

Cyber safety is not only about passwords and devices. It is about behaviour, awareness, responsibility, law, dignity, and timely response. It is about knowing when something is unsafe. It is about refusing to share OTPs. It is about verifying before trusting. It is about teaching children that secrecy online can be dangerous. It is about reminding young adults that private images can be weaponised. It is about helping senior citizens recognise fraudulent calls. It is about training employees to protect customer data. It is about ensuring that victims know how to report without destroying evidence.

The Foundation’s work sits at this intersection of education, prevention, institutional capacity building, and victim support.

We are grateful to every police officer, educator, parent, institution, volunteer, partner, and citizen who has helped carry this message forward. We are especially grateful to those who trusted us during difficult moments and allowed us to guide them through fear, confusion, and distress. Their courage has shaped our work.

Cyber safety awareness becomes powerful when it is repeated, reinforced, and normalised. One video, one session, one workshop, one message, one public endorsement can push someone to take the right action at the right time.

That is why visible support matters.

That is why credible voices matter.

That is why public awareness campaigns matter.

And that is why the Foundation will continue to work with citizens, institutions, and law enforcement ecosystems to build a safer digital society.

Cyberspace will become safer when people know what to watch for, what to avoid, what to preserve, where to report, and how to seek help without shame.

Our mission remains clear: educate, empower, and bridge.

Educate citizens before harm occurs.

Empower victims when they need guidance.

Bridge the gap between people, institutions, law enforcement, and specialist support.

We thank ADG Navniet Sekera for standing with this mission and for encouraging cyber crime awareness. Leadership of this kind gives strength to public-safety work and helps citizens take digital threats seriously.

Cyber safety is not a one-day campaign. It is a continuing national responsibility.

And together, we can make cyberspace safer for all.

We thank ADG Navniet Sekera Sir once again for recognising and supporting the Foundation’s work. When senior law enforcement leaders acknowledge public-safety initiatives, it gives citizens greater confidence to listen, learn, report, and seek help.

The post Thank you ADG Navniet Sekera Sir appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Daily Cyber Hygiene Habits!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:22:06 +0000

Cyber safety is rarely lost in one dramatic moment.

It is weakened through small careless habits repeated every day.

Clicking links without checking.
Using the same password across accounts.
Ignoring software updates.
Sharing too much on social media.
Connecting to unsafe public Wi-Fi.
Allowing apps unnecessary permissions.
Posting travel plans, locations, family details, or personal routines openly.
Trusting every call, message, or email that sounds urgent.

This is how digital risk builds.
Not through one mistake alone.
Through routine behaviour that lowers your guard.

Most people think cybercrime only happens through advanced hacking.
That is false.
In many cases, attackers succeed because people make small decisions without thinking.
One weak password.
One ignored alert.
One careless download.
One OTP shared in panic.
One profile left too public.
One device left unlocked.
One suspicious link opened out of habit.

That is enough.

Daily online habits shape your exposure to fraud, identity theft, account takeover, stalking, data leaks, blackmail, financial loss, and long-term privacy damage.

The danger is that these habits feel normal.
That is exactly why they become dangerous.

A person who reuses passwords makes every account easier to breach.
A person who skips updates leaves known vulnerabilities open.
A person who overshares online gives strangers personal intelligence.
A person who clicks fast gives scammers the speed they need.
A person who treats privacy casually creates opportunities for misuse.

Cyber safety is built in small moments.

Pause before clicking.
Verify before trusting.
Update before delaying.
Think before posting.
Lock devices.
Review app permissions.
Use strong unique passwords.
Turn on two-factor authentication.
Do not share OTPs, PINs, or sensitive personal information.
Treat convenience carefully because convenience often lowers caution.

Children need these habits.
Parents need these habits.
Professionals need these habits.
Founders, employees, students, and senior citizens all need these habits.

Strong cyber safety does not begin with fear.
It begins with discipline.

Your daily digital routine decides whether you are easy to target or difficult to exploit.
That is why small habits matter so much.
They either protect you quietly every day or expose you quietly every day.

Cyber safety is not built once.
It is built daily.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Daily Cyber Hygiene Habits! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Family WhatsApp Group Is Not A Fact Source!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:06:36 +0000

In many homes, misinformation does not begin on a public platform. It begins inside a trusted family WhatsApp group.

That is what makes it so dangerous. People lower their guard in family spaces. A message sent by a parent, uncle, aunt, sibling, cousin, or family friend is often trusted faster than a message seen anywhere else. The content may be false, outdated, edited, exaggerated, or completely fabricated, yet it gets accepted because it comes wrapped in familiarity.

This is how misinformation gains speed.

A dramatic voice note arrives. A screenshot claims urgent action is needed. A video is presented as recent when it is old. A forwarded message carries official-sounding language. Someone shares it with concern, not malice. Others assume it has already been checked. Within minutes, the same content moves across multiple family groups, resident groups, parent circles, and community networks.

That is how false information becomes believable. Not because it is credible, but because it is repeated by people we know.

Family groups are especially vulnerable because they run on emotion, trust, and speed. People forward messages to protect loved ones, warn relatives, or feel useful. In that moment, emotion overrides verification. Fear, urgency, and familiarity work together. That combination is exactly what misinformation needs.

The result is serious.

Families panic over false claims.
Old videos get treated as breaking news.
Fake advisories are mistaken for official communication.
Health rumours, crisis rumours, scam warnings, communal messages, and security-related falsehoods spread unchecked.
Children and elders in the family absorb anxiety from content that was never verified.
One careless forward can distort understanding across an entire network.

This is also why family groups become fertile ground for social engineering. Once people get used to trusting forwarded content from familiar contacts, they become easier to manipulate. A fake warning, a scam alert, a phishing link, or a financial fraud message can enter the group in the same emotional tone as any other family message. The setting feels safe, so suspicion drops.

That false sense of safety is the problem.

People need to understand that trust in the sender is not proof of truth. A loving relative can still forward a false message. A well-meaning family member can still spread panic. Good intention does not make content accurate.

This is where digital discipline must begin at home.

Family groups should not become dumping grounds for every alarming video, every dramatic claim, every unverified screenshot, and every voice note that sounds urgent. Adults must pause before forwarding. They must check source, date, context, and authenticity. They must ask whether the message comes from an official authority, a verified institution, or a credible news source. If that cannot be confirmed, it should not be circulated.

Families should also create a stronger culture of verification. It must become normal to ask, Where is this from. Is this current. Has this been verified. Instead of feeling offended by such questions, families should see them as responsible behaviour. That is how safer digital culture is built.

Children learn from this. Elders are influenced by this. Entire households take cues from how adults behave in shared digital spaces. If family groups become places of panic, that behaviour spreads. If family groups become places of caution, fact-checking, and restraint, that discipline spreads too.

Cyber safety does not fail only through hackers and scams. It also fails through everyday carelessness inside trusted circles. That is why family WhatsApp groups matter so much. They are often the first place where misinformation is believed, normalised, and redistributed at scale.

The safest family group is not the one that shares the fastest. It is the one that verifies before it forwards.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

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Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
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The post Family WhatsApp Group Is Not A Fact Source! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Instagram DMs Are Not Encrypted! #ASF

Akancha Srivastava — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:40:40 +0000

Did you know that Instagram has ended its encryption of the DMS?

News link for reference: Meta Help Center confirms that end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram is no longer supported from May 8, 2026. Khaleej Times also reported that Instagram has removed end-to-end encryption for direct messaging. – https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/tech/meta-instagram-end-to-end-encryption-removed

Most of us treat private messages as safe spaces. We send photos, documents, addresses, school details, personal updates, emotional conversations, financial information, travel plans, screenshots, and sometimes even voice notes without thinking twice.

But Instagram has discontinued end-to-end encrypted messaging for Direct Messages from May 8, 2026. This means users must become far more careful about what they share inside Instagram DMs. A private chat is not automatically a protected space. Meta’s Help Center confirms that end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram is no longer supported from this date.

This matters because misuse does not always begin with hacking. Sometimes it begins with oversharing. A private photo can be saved. A personal document can be forwarded. A sensitive conversation can be screenshotted. A child can be manipulated into moving from comments to DMs. An account can be compromised, and years of personal messages can suddenly become a risk.

For children and teenagers, this risk is even higher. Many of them do not understand the difference between a public comment, a private message, a disappearing message, and a truly secure conversation. They may trust a gaming friend, a fan page, a classmate, an unknown follower, or someone pretending to be their age. One careless message can expose their identity, location, school, daily routine, family details, or private pictures.

Adults are also vulnerable. Many people send copies of IDs, bank details, business information, confidential screenshots, personal disputes, medical documents, and emotional conversations on social media DMs because it feels quick and convenient. Convenience cannot be the standard for digital safety. Sensitive information must never be shared casually just because a chat window feels familiar.

Please do not share Aadhaar, PAN, passport details, bank information, passwords, OTPs, school IDs, home addresses, travel plans, private photos, or deeply personal conversations through Instagram DMs.

Parents must explain this clearly to children. Private messaging is not a place for secrets with strangers. It is not a place to send personal pictures. It is not a place to continue conversations with unknown profiles, gaming friends, fake fan pages, or accounts that create emotional pressure.

Go through your old chats. Delete sensitive information where possible. Turn on two-factor authentication. Use strong passwords. Check login alerts. Teach children to take screenshots and report immediately if someone makes them uncomfortable.

Every digital space demands caution. Before you send anything online, ask yourself one simple question: can this harm me or my child if it is saved, forwarded, or exposed?

Stay Aware, Stay Safe!
Jai Hind!

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