In a significant move to bolster public defense against online fraud, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh, Rajeev Krishna, has highlighted awareness as the most potent weapon. On Friday, he detailed the state police's innovative outreach strategies, which now include a specially produced short film to educate citizens about the menace of digital arrest scams and other cyber frauds.
Scam Files: The New Digital Shield
The social media team of the Uttar Pradesh Police has created a 5.27-minute film titled 'Scam Files', which was released across digital platforms on Wednesday. DGP Krishna explained that the film directly addresses the growing threat of digital arrest frauds. "The film warns people about digital arrest frauds and clearly explains that no such concept exists in law," he stated. He emphasized that criminals often trap victims by impersonating law enforcement or government officials, using fear and intimidation tactics.
"People must not panic or fall for such pressure tactics," the DGP advised. He urged the public that in any such situation, they should immediately contact the police via the national cyber helpline 1930 or the emergency number 112. He expressed confidence that this film, alongside other initiatives, would substantially strengthen the state's cyber awareness campaign.
The Four Human Triggers of Cybercrime
Issuing a crucial public advisory, DGP Rajeev Krishna outlined that most cybercrimes exploit four fundamental human weaknesses: greed, negligence, addiction, and fear. "Cybercrime essentially operates on a four-factor framework. Do not get tempted, do not be careless, do not get addicted, and do not get scared—because scammers thrive on exactly these vulnerabilities," he cautioned.
He specifically warned citizens against several common traps:
- Schemes that promise quick or guaranteed financial returns.
- Sharing OTPs or other sensitive personal details with anyone.
- Excessive involvement in online gaming that involves money.
- Panicking due to fake threats of arrest or fines delivered over video calls.
Systematic Training and Cyber Commandos
The DGP reaffirmed that combating cybercrime is among the highest priorities for the Uttar Pradesh Police, with systematic planning already showing tangible results. A key component of this strategy is extensive training. Through the Cy-Train portal, a total of 65,608 police personnel have been trained to handle cyber offenses.
Furthermore, a dedicated cyber training lab has been established at the state's cybercrime headquarters under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) programme. In a pioneering step, the police have also created a specialized force. The first batch of 15 'cyber commandos' was selected and received advanced training at premier institutions like IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, the National Security University in Gandhinagar, and NFSU in New Delhi. These highly trained experts have now been deployed across various police zones and the headquarters to directly tackle complex cyber threats.
This multi-pronged approach, combining mass awareness through films like 'Scam Files' with advanced police training and a dedicated cyber commando force, marks a robust effort by the Uttar Pradesh Police to create a safer digital environment for its citizens.
