Cybercrime in Sikkim, A Growing Threat and the Need for Awareness

TASHI RAPTEN BARFUNGPA

In today’s digital age, cyber fraud is rapidly becoming one of the most pervasive threats to individuals and society. What makes it especially dangerous is how hidden and deceptive it is—preying on our trust and the false sense of security we feel behind a screen. In India, cyber fraud has skyrocketed, and Sikkim has not been spared from this wave of online deception. As we go about our daily routines, many of us believe we’re too smart or too cautious to fall victim, but the truth is, no one is immune. Not the tech-savvy, not the cautious and certainly not the overconfident. Cybercriminals are always one step ahead, and they’ve grown disturbingly skilled at manipulating even the most careful among us.

Our journey began in 2008, when a group of young lawyers, including myself, returned to Sikkim after being exposed to the legal profession in Delhi. With a deep sense of gratitude to our home state, we felt a strong duty to contribute to the community that had nurtured us. And thus, HOPE, Sikkim was born. In those early years , we travelled across villages, schools and communities, raising awareness about basic legal rights and even offered pro bono legal services to those in need . While our careers demanded more of our time as the years went by, we have ensured that our efforts continued, now with the support of a dedicated  team of young lawyers, all equally enthusiastic about making a difference. Our focus has always been on instilling in these young minds the importance of giving back  to society, hoping they carry forward this spirit to the future generation of legal professionals. Today I am grateful to have a team of passionate young lawyers who carry the torch forward keeping the essence of service alive.

One of the most pressing issues we have added to our agenda recently is Cyber Crime, which has seen a sharp rise not just across India but in Sikkim as well. Through our work at HOPE, Sikkim, we regularly visit schools and colleges talking about crucial topics like human trafficking, drug abuse, The POCSO Act, etc and now Online Safety. Having attended an Online Safety awareness training with Impulse NGO Network, an organisation based in Meghalaya, Shillong, I realised the importance of including this topic in our discussions.

Ironically, even I, someone who’s been practicing law for more than 22 years—fell prey to a cyber scam. Yes, you read that right. Despite spending two decades dealing with legal cases, and just days after participating in a cyber law training program at the Police Head Quarters in Shillong (where I was a resource person no less!), I found myself tricked by an online scam. If you’re laughing, go ahead—I would too! It’s a humbling experience to think you’re invincible, only to be proven otherwise by a cleverly disguised phishing attempt.

For months, I kept this incident to myself, too embarrassed to admit that I—a lawyer of all people—had been duped. I stopped following up on the complaint I had filed with the central cyber cell, and I certainly didn’t want anyone in my professional circle to find out. But as I started seeing more and more cases of cyber fraud being reported, I realized my silence was doing more harm than good. I began to understand that sharing my experience could help others avoid falling into the same traps.

The response was overwhelming when I recently shared my experience at the Denzong Deltin, where I was invited by a friend to speak to his staff about online safety, worried about their vulnerability to cyber fraud. What I thought would be a small, routine talk turned into something extraordinary. After I opened up and shared my story, something magical happened. One by one, participants began sharing their own stories—some had been scammed by fraudulent online shopping sites, others tricked by fake investment opportunities, and many had fallen victim to banking and phishing scams. Some had even experienced more severe forms of cybercrime like blackmail or cyberbullying. Their hesitation to speak up mirrored my own, rooted in the fear of ridicule or shame. But as each person shared, a collective weight seemed to lift off their shoulders. They were no longer isolated victims, keeping their experiences to themselves out of shame. They were a room full of people who had been tricked, yes, but who were now stronger for having shared those experiences.

The experience taught me something crucial: in the fight against cybercrime, awareness is our strongest defence. We don’t need technical expertise to protect ourselves; we simply need to be informed, cautious, and aware of the dangers that lurk online. Sharing our stories helps others stay alert, and in turn, it makes us more vigilant too.

HOPE Sikkim’s mission has always been to empower our community, and now that mission includes creating awareness about the dangers of cybercrime. We’ve conducted awareness programmes in schools, colleges, and even workplaces, sharing practical tips on how to stay safe online. And as our sessions have expanded, so have the stories we’ve heard. From scams involving stock market investments to honey traps, from phishing to cyberbullying—the variety of tactics used by cybercriminals is mind-boggling.

What’s particularly alarming is how often these crimes go unreported because victims are too ashamed or fearful to come forward. But this shame is exactly what keeps cybercrime thriving in the shadows. It’s important that we destigmatize being a victim of online scams and instead focus on educating ourselves and others about the risks.

Cybercrime is a broad and complex issue, covering everything from phishing to credit card fraud, from hacking to child exploitation. And yet, many people don’t realize just how easy it is to fall victim. You don’t need to be technically naïve to be targeted—anyone with an internet connection is a potential victim. Whether it’s clicking on an unverified link, sharing too much personal information on social media, or falling for a well-crafted scam email, the opportunities for fraudsters are endless.

The dangers in cyberspace are particularly insidious because they aren’t immediately visible. If someone were to confront us in person, we would instinctively react—fight, flee, or find a way to protect ourselves. But in the digital world, we often don’t realize we’re in danger until the damage has already been done. This makes cyber threats more dangerous in many ways than those we can see. The invisible enemy is always harder to defend against.

But the solution isn’t always about technology or complicated cybersecurity strategies. The simple key to staying safe online is awareness. By educating ourselves and others about the risks, we can prevent countless cases of fraud and deception. This is why HOPE Sikkim continues its mission to spread awareness, helping people stay safe in an increasingly digital world.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Many lives have been destroyed, reputations tarnished, and fortunes lost due to cybercrime. Families have been torn apart and left to pick up the pieces. Reputations, carefully built over a lifetime, have been brought down in a matter of minutes by fraudulent schemes and malicious intent. People have been defrauded of their hard earned money, their personal information misused, and in the worse cases, lives have been lost.

The digital world, while full of opportunity, carries its own set of dangers-dangers that many are still unaware of or too afraid to confront. But staying silent only serves the perpetrators. It’s time to break the silence. Let us speak out, share our stories and spread awareness. By sharing our own experiences and educating others, we not only protect ourselves but also empower our communities to stay vigilant. Awareness is the most potent shield we have in this fast evolving landscape of online threats. We all need to take the responsibility, to be aware of the risks, to stay informed, and to act with caution.

At the end of the day, every life, every story matters. And  in a world where we are all connected, staying informed and spreading awareness is our best defence, So Stay safe, be safe, and help others stay safe—because we are all in this together.

“There’s Always HOPE, Sikkim”