Report Cyber Fraud Without Delay, Says Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis — ‘Golden Hour’ Crucial in Cyber Complaints

Mumbai, Oct 2025 : Just as timely medical aid within the ‘golden hour’ after a road accident can save lives, the same principle applies to cyber frauds, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The faster a complaint is lodged, the greater the chances of recovering or saving the defrauded amount, he emphasized.

Fadnavis urged citizens to immediately report any instance of cyber fraud by calling the helpline numbers 1930 or 1945 without any delay.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Cyber Awareness Month – October 2025’ programme held at the Maharashtra Police Headquarters. The event was attended by Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Iqbal Singh Chahal, actors Akshay Kumar and Rani Mukerji, Dr. Farooq Qazi from VJTI, Professor Manjesh Hanwal from IIT Bombay, and several senior police officials.

Highlighting the growing challenges of the digital age, Fadnavis said preventing cybercrime has become one of the biggest challenges today. “Along with punishing the culprits, it is equally important to prevent financial losses. Awareness is the most effective tool to combat cyber fraud,” he said.

He noted that with the advent of artificial intelligence, fraudsters are misusing new techniques such as phishing, OTP scams, deepfakes, and voice and face cloning to deceive unsuspecting citizens. Sharing personal information on social media or during online transactions can also make people vulnerable, he warned. Accepting cookies carelessly can lead to the misuse of personal data, resulting in scams, extortion, and cyberbullying.

The Chief Minister informed that Maharashtra has established world-class cyber security laboratories, response centres, and regulatory mechanisms to address such crimes. These facilities enable prompt action to minimize losses, but timely reporting of incidents remains crucial. “Modern technology poses risks, but technology itself is also the solution,” he said, stressing the need to build capacity to tackle challenges such as deepfakes.

“Every digital crime leaves behind a digital fingerprint. Therefore, both technological capability and public awareness are equally important,” he added. Fadnavis also emphasized the need to spread cyber safety awareness among the youth, noting that communicators and media professionals have an important role to play in this mission.

DGP Rashmi Shukla stated that the Railway Ministry has launched a commendable awareness campaign to keep citizens alert and ensure their quick protection. Cyber safety messages are being announced daily at all major railway stations across the country, reaching millions of people in their everyday lives.

The Maharashtra Police too has recognized the importance of awareness and is conducting extensive campaigns across cities, districts, and social media platforms in the state.

During the event, a short film on cyber security was screened, and a children’s comic booklet titled ‘Cyber Yoddha’ (Cyber Warrior) was released by CM Fadnavis. Cyber warriors who have contributed significantly to public awareness efforts were also felicitated on the occasion.

The event concluded with remarks from dignitaries and a vote of thanks delivered by Special Inspector General Yashasvi Yadav.