Pemberdayaan Desa Merek Melalui Peningkatan Literasi Keamanan Digital dalam Pencegahan Penipuan Siber

Abstract

Digitalization in Indonesia offers convenience, but it also creates new vulnerabilities for the public, including in rural areas such as Merek Village, Merek Subdistrict, Karo Regency. The Financial Services Authority and the Indonesia Anti-Scam Center report that losses incurred by the public due to digital fraud have reached trillions of rupiah in recent years. On the other hand, the digital literacy level of the rural population remains lower than that of urban residents, particularly regarding digital security. This situation served as the basis for implementing a community service program on digital security literacy in Merek Village, aimed at improving the community’s ability to recognize and prevent various forms of cyber fraud, such as phishing, fraudulent investments, and illegal online loans. The method used was interactive outreach targeting villagers and youth, supplemented by case study explanations and Q&A sessions. The results of the activity showed that participants gained a better understanding of the signs of digital fraud and how to prevent it, consistent with findings from various digital literacy outreach programs in other regions of Indonesia that have also significantly improved participants’ understanding. This activity highlights the importance of ongoing collaboration between universities, village governments, and other institutions in enhancing the digital resilience of rural communities.