To prevent and contain the growing number of cyber crimes, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has brought out a booklet – Be(A)ware — on the modus operandi of financial fraudsters, as part of its customer awareness initiatives.

The booklet aims to create awareness among those who have just begun their journey into the digital financial world, and are not so well-versed with digital financial transactions. The booklet is aimed at people across various age groups, education levels, and backgrounds.

The Be(A)ware series, titled ‘Raju and the Forty Thieves’, is an easily understandable pictorial depiction of cyber frauds, and helps people to keep their hard-earned money safe from fraudsters.

Raju and Forty Thieves contains 40 stories pertaining to fraudulent events. It offers simple tips and Dos and Don’ts. Raju represents a typical citizen. In the stories, he takes on different roles – of a senior citizen, a happy-go-lucky person, a farmer, etc.

The booklet was prepared by RBI ombudsman for Maharashtra and Goa to spread financial literacy among people. The booklet was prepared during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some of the scenarios covered in the book

1. Fraud through phishing links

2. Fake offers of credit card annual fee waiver

3. ATM cards’ skimming frauds

4. Frauds using screen sharing apps

5. SIM cloning

6. Scam through QR code scan

7. Stealing data through data cable (juice jacking)

8. Lottery fraud

9. Online job fraud

10. COVID-19 testing fake online sites

11. Fake vaccination call

12. Fraud using public Wi-Fi

13. Message app banking fraud

14. Multi-level marketing scam

15. Fake loan offer

16. Credit card limit upgradation

17. Card cloning at shops/commercial establishments

18. Payment spoofing application