In a major push to combat digital crime, the Uttar Pradesh Police has launched a powerful cyber awareness short film featuring veteran Bollywood actor Nana Patekar. Titled 'Scam Files', the 5.27-minute film has already garnered over a million views online, highlighting the public's urgent need for guidance in the face of sophisticated online fraud.
Star Power for a Critical Message
The film, directed by Raaj Shaandilyaa of 'Dream Girl' fame, also stars actors Leena Sharma, Kishore Soni, and Adil Irani. It is based on a real-life "digital arrest" scam case reported in Kanpur. Nana Patekar, who plays an alert citizen in the film, praised the police's innovative approach.
"Today, the first line of defence isn't a lock on the door, it's clarity in the mind," said Patekar. He appreciated the UP Police for using creative storytelling to take cyber awareness to the masses, calling it the kind of action India needs to stay safer online.
A Multi-Pronged Awareness Drive
The short film is part of a broader campaign by the Uttar Pradesh Police to educate citizens. Rahul Srivastava, Additional SP and PRO to the DGP, who wrote the script, revealed that the filming process was as intensive as a feature film. Shot over several days in June last year across Mumbai and Kanpur, the team even reshot sequences with a different actor for a police role to ensure the accent was suitable for northern audiences.
"Choosing a Bollywood actor of his (Nana Patekar's) stature helps the message reach citizens across all demographics," Srivastava explained. He also announced future plans to produce podcasts with cyber experts in 2026 to provide actionable guidance and further spread awareness.
The Staggering Scale of Cyber Fraud in India
The initiative addresses a crisis of monumental proportions. According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a staggering ₹52,976 crore has been lost to cyber frauds in India over the past six years.
Uttar Pradesh's own data paints a detailed picture of the challenge and the police's response:
- 87,850 cybercrime cases were registered in the state from 2017 to mid-December 2025.
- Investigations were completed in over 75,000 cases, with action taken against more than 53,000 accused.
- Police recovered ₹382.25 crore of the cheated amount during this period.
- In 2025 alone, the police successfully froze ₹325.25 crore linked to cyber fraud, thanks to prompt reporting by victims on the 1930 helpline and National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
Prevention is Key: The Four Roots of Cyber Crime
Rajeev Krishna, the Director General of Police for Uttar Pradesh, emphasized that awareness is the strongest weapon. The police have already sensitized over one lakh citizens through 11 zonal-level online workshops on emerging cyber crime methods and precautions.
"Most cyber crimes stem from four core factors: greed, negligence, addiction, and fear," stated DGP Krishna. He urged the public to report any cyber crime immediately via the 1930 Cyber Helpline to ensure swift action and protection, reinforcing that public awareness, timely action, and creative outreach remain the most effective tools for prevention.
By blending compelling storytelling with star appeal and hard data, the Uttar Pradesh Police aims to build a more informed and vigilant digital society, one view at a time.
