In the first and highly impactful session at the historic Connect Bareilly Zone – Influencers Meetup 2026, Additional SP Vikram Dahia, IPS (Pilibhit) delivered a comprehensive operational playbook titled “Guarding the Digital Frontier”.
A 2020-batch IPS officer originally from Karnal, Haryana, Additional SP Dahia holds a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering and an MBA from IIM Rohtak. Known for his proactive approach towards cyber awareness and community outreach, he is widely respected in the Bareilly Zone for making complex cybersecurity concepts accessible and actionable.
This session is part of the larger, sustained drive led by DGP Uttar Pradesh Shri Rajeev Krishna and all ADG Zones across the state. Controlling cybercrime has been one of DGP Shri Rajeev Krishna’s topmost priorities, under which special efforts have been made to strengthen cyber infrastructure, training, and public awareness initiatives throughout Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to over 100 influencers from nine districts, Additional SP Dahia left exposed how cyber criminals are specifically targeting both influencers and their followers through social media.
Key Warnings That Resonated Strongly:
- “Digital Arrest” Is a Complete Myth Additional SP Dahia categorically stated there is no legal provision for “digital arrest” or virtual custody via video calls. He explained that under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, any arrest or notice requires physical custody or explicit legal procedures — video calls by fraudsters claiming to be CBI or police officers are entirely fake.
- Top Threats Targeting Creators Directly
- Brand collaboration phishing (malicious links/attachments mimicking PR firms)
- SIM Swap + MFA bypass attacks
- Deepfakes and brand hijacking for rogue live streams
- Threats Facing Your Followers He highlighted how scammers exploit creator trust through fake giveaways, fraudulent betting/loan schemes, and impersonation in comment sections. He also flagged rising social engineering trends such as part-time job frauds, fake stock investment scams, and “emotion mining” extortion (manipulating personal vulnerabilities and emotional triggers to blackmail or extort victims).
Practical Defence Tips for Influencers Additional SP Dahia urged creators to immediately adopt three non-negotiable practices:
- Switch from SMS-based 2FA to app-based (Google Authenticator) or hardware MFA
- Maintain strict separation between personal and professional emails
- Never open suspicious contract PDFs or files on primary content-creation devices
The Influencer Combat Playbook He called upon creators to become the first line of defence for their audiences by rigorously vetting advertisements, regularly normalising basic privacy and safety content, and promoting official state solutions like the National Cyber Helpline 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in in bios and videos.
Additional SP Dahia also stressed the importance of reporting fraud instantly during the critical “golden hour” through the Cyber Help Desk available at every police station and the specialised Cyber Thana/Cyber Cell in every district of Uttar Pradesh.
The session was widely appreciated by the participating creators for its clarity, practicality, and engaging delivery. Speaking to NDD, Mohammad Sartaj, a participant from Amroha, said, "Additional SP Vikram Dahia Sir’s session was extremely informative and practical. We all learned a great deal today. Personally, I benefited immensely and will now use these insights to spread cyber awareness among my followers."
ADG Ramit Sharma appreciated the session and said, “Additional SP Vikram Dahia has done an outstanding job today. His presentation was not only highly informative but also extremely practical. I am confident that the insights he shared will help our creators and their large audiences stay much safer in the digital world.”
Additional SP Vikram Dahia's session stood out as one of the most practically valuable of the day — equipping over 100 creators across nine districts with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves and their audiences in an increasingly hostile digital landscape.
This presentation perfectly complemented the broader goals of Connect Bareilly Zone 2026 and will undoubtedly inspire many creators to start incorporating these vital safety messages in their content.
National Digital Dispatch, as the Official Media Partner of Connect Bareilly Zone 2026, will continue to bring you live updates, session highlights, and deeper insights throughout the day. Stay tuned.
