TIACON 2025 | Scamland: India Fights Back

The Trusted Information Alliance hosted its inaugural conference, TIACoN 2025 in New Delhi on 6 November 2025, which saw over 160 participants come together to learn more about scam networks that are increasingly deploying sophisticated technologies, often intertwined with criminal networks, including elements of human trafficking, to exploit vulnerable individuals.

The Scamland panel, was led by The Quint’s fact-checking editor and TIA governing council member Abhilash Mallick, discussed measures that are currently in place to combat this growing menace, what challenges continue to persist, and how we can better safeguard citizens in the digital age.

The panel included ex-DGP Goa Dr Muktesh Chander, cultural heritage technocrat Dr Navina Jafa, senior editor at Jagran New Media Urvashi Kapoor, and the editor of Boom’s Decode, Adrija Bose.

(From L to R) Abhilash Mallick, Adrija Bose, Dr Navina Jafa and Urvashi Kapoor

Here are the key-takeaways from our panel discussion:

• Digital penetration in rural areas has made it easier for fraudsters to operate. Mobile phones and bank accounts have become convenient tools for committing financial fraud. Among many locals, there appears to be little hesitation or moral conflict around participating in such activities—perhaps because scamming is not perceived as severely as other forms of harm. As a result, it has increasingly become a viable “career option” for some young men.

• Scammers use sophisticated impersonation tactics. Fraudsters often replicate official identities — such as financial regulators or government agencies — using familiar logos, WhatsApp profiles, and APK files to appear legitimate. Victims are frequently placed under psychological pressure, including forms of “digital arrest,” and scammers may possess sensitive personal information, such as Aadhaar details.

• Financial losses can be recovered, but only partially and only when acted upon immediately. Rapid reporting through official cybercrime channels significantly increases the chances of recovering funds, although victims often regain only a portion of what is lost.

• Current systems are not fully equipped to handle the human cost of digital fraud. The ease of acquiring SIM cards through KYC loopholes contributes to the proliferation of scams. With limited traceability of callers and anonymous online communication, users must assume high levels of personal vigilance.

• Deepfake-based fraud is becoming mainstream. Manipulated videos featuring well-known personalities endorsing investment or financial schemes are misleading a wide segment of the population, especially those unfamiliar with digital manipulation.

• Transparency from platforms is critical. Regular transparency reports can meaningfully enhance accountability, offering visibility into the nature and scale of digital fraud and misinformation.

• Scam literacy must become a mainstream public education priority. Content itself is increasingly being weaponised. Cross-sector collaboration among fact-checkers, technologists, cyber experts, and civil society is essential to strengthening digital resilience. Training programmes reveal that scam experiences are far more widespread than publicly acknowledged.

• Digital hygiene practices can significantly reduce vulnerability. Recommended practices include avoiding unsolicited apps or files, maintaining extreme caution with unknown callers, and removing or masking sensitive financial information such as CVV numbers from credit/debit cards.

Conclusion

The discussion made clear that digital fraud in India has evolved into a complex, fast-moving ecosystem, one that preys on trust, exploits loopholes, and is accelerating faster than public awareness or institutional safeguards. Rising impersonation scams, deepfake-driven fraud, and lax KYC enforcement have created an environment where individual vigilance is often the only reliable defence. While rapid reporting mechanisms can help recover partial losses, the broader system is still struggling to keep pace with the psychological, financial, and social impacts on victims. Building meaningful resilience will require far more than reactive enforcement: it demands sustained scam literacy, transparent reporting by platforms, and coordinated collaboration across fact-checking, cyber safety, technology, and civil society.

Way Forward

• Prioritise nationwide scam literacy and digital hygiene education

Large-scale, community-level programmes should equip people, especially first-time digital users, with practical skills to recognise impersonation tactics, avoid high-risk behaviours, and respond quickly when targeted.

• Strengthen systemic safeguards through regulation and platform transparency

Closing KYC loopholes, improving caller traceability, and mandating regular transparency reports from platforms can create stronger deterrence and help users understand evolving fraud patterns.

• Build cross-sector fraud-response networks

Collaboration among fact-checkers, cybersecurity teams, tech platforms, financial institutions and law enforcement is essential to detect emerging scams early, curb deepfake-based fraud, and support victims through faster, coordinated recovery pathways.