Thirty chartered accountants from Mumbai and Thane come up with clever cyber fraud awareness initiative, using comic strips and videos to show citizens how exactly to protect themselves against common online frauds
The CA group (with their families) behind the cyber fraud awareness initiative
While most Chartered Accountants are busy helping people save on taxes, a group of Mumbai and Thane-based CAs is going a step further — fighting cybercrime with creativity. After a shocking incident in which a colleague was blackmailed using morphed photos by scammers running a fake loan app, this tight-knit group of 30 CAs turned their frustration into action.
A group of 30 Mumbai and Thane-based CAs has launched a unique cyber awareness initiative using comic-style cartoons and videos to explain common online scams. The campaign was sparked by a chilling incident involving one of their own — a female employee who fell prey to a fraudulent loan app scam.
In January this year, cybercriminals morphed the woman’s photos and sent them to her contacts while blackmailing her for Rs 3000. When the CA team approached the Rabodi police station in Thane, where the woman lives, they reportedly received no help. The police allegedly advised her to change her SIM card and format her phone.
Some of the artworks by the team of CAs
Frustrated by the lack of support, the CA team decided to take matters into their own hands and launched a campaign to educate the public and help prevent similar scams. The campaign was initiated by the Cutchi Visa Oswal Chartered Accountants Association and the Chartered & Cost Accountants Organisation (CVOCA), based in Dadar. More than 2500 CAs across Mumbai and Thane are part of these organisations.
Speaking to mid-day, CVOCA President Vinit Gada said, “In January, one of our female employees appeared visibly distressed. She eventually told us she had clicked a link for a personal loan, which turned out to be a fake loan app. The scammers morphed her photos and blackmailed her for Rs 3000.”
The victim shared her experience with mid-day: “They threatened to make my morphed photos viral on social media. They even sent me call records showing who I had spoken to and for how long. I was terrified and overwhelmed with negative thoughts. I couldn’t focus at work. When my boss noticed this, I finally told him. He called the 1930 cyber fraud helpline and took me to the police.”
She added, “The police only advised me to block my SIM. That was it. I felt helpless. My boss and office colleagues supported me and helped me recover emotionally. It took me 2–3 months to come out of the trauma.”
Gada said, “Today, scams are everywhere — OTP frauds, fake job offers, digital arrests, loan traps, call forwarding cons. They not only drain people financially, but also emotionally. The government’s helpline (1930) and cybercrime portal exist, but results are often disappointing.”
“That’s why we decided to start this awareness campaign in a creative way. We’re making short videos and comics that we share on social media. Our CA families are also pitching in — editing, recording, acting. The response has been amazing. When it comes to cyber fraud, awareness is the best defence.”
CVOCA Vice President Harsh Dedhia added, “Our members have worked really hard on this project. Nearly 30 people, including family members, are involved. From scripting and acting to editing and distribution, it’s all done in-house.” “Our aim is to educate people, especially children and senior citizens, who are often more vulnerable on social media. They deserve extra protection,” he said.
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