Digital basics
Your phone can find jobs, store your certificates, pay safely and teach you a trade — if you use it wisely. It can also empty your account in one click if you do not.
Learn it. Use it for good. Never share your OTP.
What every worker should be able to do
| Level | You can… |
|---|---|
| 1. Phone basics | Calls, contacts, camera, WhatsApp messages and voice notes, screen lock. |
| 2. Online | Search, maps, learning videos, reading official websites. |
| 3. Documents | Email with attachments, scan certificates as PDF, DigiLocker, fill online forms. |
| 4. Money | UPI payments, reading bank SMS, checking your balance — safely. |
| 5. Work | Typing, simple documents and sheets, video calls, sharing files. |
Not sure where you are? Ask a younger brother, sister or friend to watch you do each step once. Practise what you cannot do yet.
The essentials
A proper email
- Make one simple address: firstname.lastname@… — it goes on your CV.
- Check it every day when job hunting.
- Write a clear subject: “Application — Electrician — Imran Basha”.
- Attach your CV as a PDF.
DigiLocker
The Government’s app to keep official documents — Aadhaar, many board mark sheets, driving licence and more — digitally. Documents issued into DigiLocker are accepted like originals by many offices.
Scan your certificates
- Use your phone’s scanner (in Google Drive or the camera app).
- Save each as a PDF with a clear name: SSLC-Marksheet.pdf.
- Keep a folder in your phone and a copy in your email.
Online forms
- Use only official websites — Government sites end in .gov.in.
- Keep scans, photo and signature ready before you start.
- Note the application number and take a screenshot at the end.
- Never pay a middleman to fill a free form.
Pay safely with UPI
- You never need your UPI PIN to receive money. If someone asks you to enter a PIN or scan a QR to “receive”, it is a fraud.
- Check the name shown on screen before you pay.
- Never share your OTP, PIN or card details with anyone — not the bank, not the police, not family on a call.
- Read the SMS from your bank after every payment; report anything you did not do immediately.
Common scams and what to do
| Scam | How it looks | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer asking for a fee | “Pay ₹___ for registration / medical / visa and join next week.” | Genuine employers do not charge. Do not pay. |
| Task or “work from home” scam | Earn money for liking videos or rating hotels; later they ask you to “invest” to unlock earnings. | Leave the group. Never pay to receive income. |
| KYC or account block link | SMS: your bank account or SIM will be blocked, click this link. | Do not click. Contact your bank only through its official app or branch. |
| Police / courier / “digital arrest” call | A caller in uniform on video says a parcel or case is in your name and asks for money. | Real police do not arrest or collect money on video calls. Hang up and report. |
| Fake loan apps | Instant loan with no documents; then threats and harassment. | Avoid. Only use regulated banks — and see Money and savings on interest. |
| “Sent by mistake” money | Someone sends a small amount and asks you to return it via a link or QR. | Do not scan. Tell your bank. |
| OTP request | Anyone asking for an OTP, PIN or password — even “from the bank”. | Never share. No genuine person needs it. |
If you are cheated — act within the hour
- Call 1930, the National Cyber Crime Helpline, at once. The sooner you call, the better the chance of stopping the money.
- Report it on cybercrime.gov.in.
- Call your bank to block the card or account.
- Report suspicious calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages through Chakshu on Sanchar Saathi. A lost or stolen phone can also be blocked there.
- Do not feel ashamed — scammers target educated people too. Reporting protects the next person.
Protect your phone
- Use a screen lock (PIN or fingerprint).
- Install apps only from the official app store. Never install an app because a caller asks you to — especially screen-sharing apps.
- Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp.
- Update your phone and apps when asked.
- Do not leave your phone unlocked with others.
Use your phone, don’t let it use you
Hours of scrolling take the time you need for learning, family and prayer. Set a daily limit for entertainment, and spend some screen time every day on something that builds your future.
SkilledMuslim is not a recruitment agency and never charges anyone.
Core Skills · Languages · Speaking · Interviews and CVs · Workplace habits · Digital basics · Money and savings