In a major push to make cybercrime investigation a fundamental part of everyday policing, the state of Telangana officially inaugurated a comprehensive six-week cyber awareness initiative titled 'Fraud Ka Full Stop' on Tuesday. The campaign, spearheaded by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), aims to embed cyber safety into the public consciousness across the state.
Cybercrime is Now Core Policing: DGP's Directive
Launching the campaign from the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre in Hyderabad, Director General of Police, Shivadhar Reddy, delivered a clear mandate. He emphasized that cybercrime can no longer remain the sole responsibility of a specialized wing and must be integrated into the core functions of all police units. "Every district must maintain tight coordination with TGCSB," Reddy stated, adding that the Chief Minister has issued explicit directions to strengthen cybercrime control mechanisms.
The DGP outlined the need for extensive awareness programs at police stations, and at the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and district levels. The focus is to shield citizens from prevalent threats like digital arrest scams, investment fraud, impersonation, OTP-based frauds, and social media extortion.
Telangana's Cyber Success Story & Campaign Themes
TGCSB Director, Shikha Goel, while launching the people-centric movement, highlighted Telangana's impressive track record in combating cybercrime. She revealed that while India witnessed a 29% rise in cybercrime, Telangana recorded an 8% decline. More significantly, the financial losses in the state reduced by 30%, starkly contrasting with the national average reduction of just 6%.
Detailing the bureau's achievements, Goel mentioned that TGCSB has handled a staggering 2.44 lakh complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), filed 58,244 First Information Reports (FIRs), and most crucially, facilitated refunds of over Rs 350 crore to victims. She credited reforms like the upgraded 1930 helpline, a robust Put on Hold (POH) mechanism for stolen funds, and a model refund system developed with the High Court for this success.
The 'Fraud Ka Full Stop' campaign will dedicate each of its six weeks to a specific theme, including reporting via 1930, digital arrest, investment scams, identity theft, hacking threats, and online safety for women and children. "We want citizens to make cyber safety a daily habit," Goel asserted.
Grassroots Engagement and Multi-Platform Outreach
The launch event also introduced two key initiatives: SPARC Cyber Clubs in educational institutions to groom students as cyber ambassadors, and the SBI Cyber Defenders program to enhance preventive awareness among bank staff and customers. A suite of awareness materials, including posters, jingles, songs, and short films, was unveiled.
Over the next six weeks, police units statewide will roll out an extensive array of activities. These will include:
- Workshops and programs in schools and colleges.
- Cyber safety walks, flash mobs, and rallies.
- Poster and short-video competitions.
- Street plays and pledge drives.
- Live online interactive sessions.
Cyber safety jingles will be broadcast at major traffic junctions, markets, railway stations, and bus stands. The campaign has set an ambitious target to directly reach out to at least five lakh citizens through these field events, marking a significant step in building a more cyber-resilient Telangana.
