NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday issued a blunt warning against the growing threat of digital fraud and so-called “digital arrest” scams, pointing out how ordinary people – from the elderly to families saving for children’s education – are being duped of their hard-earned money by cybercriminals.Even as he warned people to remain vigilant and adhere to formal banking, the Prime Minister used his monthly Mann Ki Baat address to highlight a contradictory story of technology used for national good – and showcase how AI is helping India preserve, restore and reimagine ancient knowledge systems to a global audience.In his monthly radio address, Modi said scammers are increasingly targeting innocent citizens.He said: “In Mann Ki Baat, I spoke to you at length about digital arrest… Incidents like this still happen around us, and they are unforgivable.” “All too often we realize that a senior has been defrauded out of their earnings their entire life.”The Prime Minister warned people against fake calls, messages and links disguised as official communications. “Someone calls and says, ‘I’m a senior officer.’ “You have to share some details with us.”
Then, innocent people do it,” he said, stressing that the KYC or re-KYC process should be completed “only through your bank branch, official app, and authorized medium.” He urged citizens not to share one-time passwords, Aadhaar numbers or bank account information, adding, “Most importantly, keep changing your password from time to time.
“Modi also highlighted how India is blending cutting-edge technology with its cultural heritage, building on presentations made at the recent Global AI Impact Summit in Delhi.
“Leaders from all over the world were amazed when they saw how, with the help of artificial intelligence, we preserved our ancient texts, ancient knowledge and manuscripts and adapted them for today’s generation,” he said.Citing Sushruta Samhita’s live presentation, Modi explained the multi-step AI process showcased at the summit. “In the first step, it was demonstrated how, with the help of technology, we can improve the image quality of manuscripts and make them readable,” he said.“In the second step, this image was converted into machine-readable text… The machine-readable text was read by the AI avatar… Moreover… this invaluable Indian knowledge can be translated into Indian and foreign languages,” Modi said.The Prime Minister said world leaders have shown “great interest in learning about ancient Indian knowledge through a modern avatar”, underscoring India’s growing confidence in pairing advanced AI tools with its cultural and intellectual heritage.
