MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cyber launched a cyber-awareness short film, Digital Arrest, and the 1930 Maharashtra Cyber Anthem at an event in Mumbai on Wednesday, attended by several celebrities and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.Actors Ashish Vidyarthi, Pankaj Tripathi, Sharad Kelkar, Sonali Bendre, Javed Jaffrey and Mangesh Desai, along with singer Sunidhi Chauhan and comedian Samay Raina, were among those who contributed to the campaign and attended the event.Speaking at the event, Fadnavis stressed the importance of public awareness in tackling cybercrime. He said artists, actors and singers could play an important role in reaching citizens with messages about online fraud.“Cyber criminals dupe citizens by frightening and intimidating them in the name of police, the CBI, or judges. Citizens must not fall prey to any such tactics and should immediately contact the cyber helpline number ‘1930’ in case of cyber fraud,” Fadnavis said.The celebrities were felicitated for their contribution to the Digital Arrest short film and the 1930 Maharashtra Cyber Anthem.Samay Raina, who was also felicitated, spoke about his long association with Maharashtra Cyber.“Thank you so much for the felicitations. Mera aur Maharashtra cell ka rishta bahut purana hai. (My relationship with the Maharashtra Cyber cell is very old. Bahut zyada active hai Maharashtra cyber cell (Maharashtra Cyber is very active), wherever you are, US or India, they will catch you,” he said.Speaking from personal experience, Raina said, “1930 is really a great number. I have actually saved it because I often get calls from there.”He then joked about being woken up in the morning for the event.“This is the first time the Cyber Cell has woken a comedian in the morning to felicitate someone,” Raina said.Speaking to ANI, Vidyarthi said the campaign was important because technology, while making people’s lives easier, was also being used by criminals to target ordinary citizens.“I feel that we all use technology to make our lives easier, and people use it to destroy the lives of ordinary people. I think this campaign is important so that you stop this crime from happening,” he said.“It’s important to spread awareness that there is no such thing as digital arrest. The films that are being made, the apps that are being announced, that is such a wonderful thing. People will finally know about the ongoing big scam,” he added.The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the so-called “digital arrest” scam, in which fraudsters impersonate police officers, government officials or other authorities to frighten victims and extort money from them.Fadnavis urged citizens to remain alert and contact the 1930 cyber helpline immediately if they fall victim to cyber fraud.(With inputs from ANI)
