Strengthening Digital Financial Security Among Salaried Women: A Conceptual Framework for Safe Financial Practices

Harshitaben Dineshbhai Suva (Department of Commerce and Management, Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University, Junagadh, Gujarat)
Dinesh Chavda (Department of Commerce and Management, Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University, Junagadh, Gujarat)

International Journal of Sustainable Business, Management and Accounting
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): International Journal of Sustainable Business, Management, and Accounting (IJSB

Background of study: India's rapidly expanding digital financial ecosystem, including UPI, internet banking, mobile banking, and digital wallets, has significantly improved financial inclusion and transaction convenience. However, the increasing use of digital financial services has also exposed salaried women to cyber threats such as phishing, OTP fraud, SIM-swapping, and fraudulent payment applications, making digital financial security awareness an important area of research. Aims and scope of paper: This paper aims to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework that explains the determinants, mediating mechanisms, and outcomes of digital financial security awareness among salaried women. The study integrates insights from financial literacy, information security, and technology adoption literature to provide a theoretical foundation for future empirical research. Methods: The study adopts a conceptual research design based exclusively on secondary data. Relevant information has been collected and synthesised from peer-reviewed journal articles, books, government reports, policy documents, and other authentic academic. Result: The proposed conceptual framework identifies demographic factors, digital literacy, workplace/institutional training, and social influence as antecedent factors, while risk perception, trust in digital platforms, and self-efficacy are proposed as mediating mechanisms that may shape Digital Financial Security Awareness (knowledge and attitude). Higher awareness, in turn, is expected to support Secure Digital Financial Behaviour, reduced vulnerability to cyber fraud, and improved financial well-being. Conclusion: The study contributes to the existing literature by presenting an integrated conceptual model that enhances understanding of digital financial security awareness among salaried women. The framework provides valuable implications for policymakers, financial institutions, employers, and educators in designing effective awareness programs and serves as a strong theoretical basis for future empirical validation.