Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has issued a strong warning against a growing form of cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate police officers, CBI officials and judges, intimidating victims into transferring money under the guise of a so-called “digital arrest.”
Fadnavis made it clear that there is no legal provision or procedure called a digital arrest and urged citizens not to succumb to threats or pressure tactics used by cybercriminals. He appealed to anyone falling victim to online fraud to immediately call the cybercrime helpline 1930.
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The Chief Minister was speaking at an event organised by Maharashtra Cyber at Sahyadri Guest House, where he released the cyber-awareness short film ‘Digital Arrest’ and the ‘1930 Maharashtra Cyber Anthem’.
Several celebrities associated with the awareness campaign, including actors Ashish Vidyarthi, Pankaj Tripathi, Sharad Kelkar, Sonali Bendre and Javed Jaffrey, singers Sunidhi Chauhan and Mangesh Desai, and comedian Samay Raina, were present at the event.
‘Golden hour’ can save defrauded money
Fadnavis stressed that the period immediately after a cyber fraud is crucial and described it as the “golden hour” for victims.
According to him, the chances of stopping or recovering the stolen money are significantly higher when the fraud is reported immediately. If victims wait for several days, the money can be moved through multiple bank accounts, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to trace and freeze the funds.
He therefore urged victims not to waste time out of embarrassment, fear or confusion.
“Citizens should immediately call 1930 as soon as they realise that they have been cheated,” he said.
Criminals creating fear through fake identities
The Chief Minister said cybercriminals were constantly developing new methods to exploit people’s fear.
In several cases, fraudsters allegedly call victims claiming that a parcel in their name contains drugs or other prohibited material. Others pose as police or CBI officers and threaten arrest or prosecution.
Victims are sometimes even shown people dressed as police officers or judges during video calls to make the deception appear genuine. The criminals then allegedly pressure them into transferring money to “clear” the supposed case.
Fadnavis cautioned citizens against complying with such demands and emphasised that legitimate law-enforcement agencies do not conduct arrests through video calls or demand money to prevent an arrest.
AI adds a new dimension to cyber fraud
The Chief Minister also highlighted the emerging risks posed by artificial intelligence, particularly voice cloning and deepfake technology.
According to him, technological advances have made it increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to distinguish between genuine and manipulated audio-visual content. As dependence on smartphones, online banking, payment gateways and digital platforms grows, awareness has become an important line of defence against cybercrime.
He praised Maharashtra Cyber for its efforts to counter emerging forms of digital fraud and called for greater public participation in awareness initiatives.
42-minute film to take message across state
Fadnavis said popular actors and artists could play a significant role in taking cyber-safety messages to a wider audience through films, social media videos and reels.
The 42-minute ‘Digital Arrest’ awareness film has been produced as part of the campaign to educate citizens about impersonation scams and encourage immediate reporting of cyber frauds.
The Chief Minister urged citizens to remember one key message: if a caller threatens arrest over a phone or video call and demands money, do not panic or transfer funds. Report the fraud immediately on 1930.
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