As over 13.50 crore people have already taken a dip in Sangam, the Uttar Pradesh Police has taken an innovative step to safeguard pilgrims and the general public from cyber crimes by releasing an awareness short film.
Bollywood actor Sanjay Mishra plays the role of a saint, "Shambhu Shikari," in this short film, which focuses on educating people about OTP (One-Time Password) scams.
The video portrays a scene where a cyber fraudster calls Shambhu Shikari, pretending to be a representative of a website, and informs him that he has won a free trip to London. The scammer promises an all-expenses-paid trip for Shambhu and one companion, including travel, accommodation, and food.
When the saint mentions that he has two disciples, the caller extends the offer to three people. The fraudster then asks for the names of the disciples and demands an OTP to confirm their participation. However, Shambhu Shikari, showing his wit and awareness, instead provides the fraudster with the helpline numbers 1930 and UP112, making it clear that he is not gullible.
Through this entertaining yet educational short film, Sanjay Mishra urges people to avoid sharing their OTPs with anyone and to stay cyber-safe.
Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar stated that the initiative is part of the Uttar Pradesh Police's continuous efforts, under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to ensure the safety of pilgrims and the general public during the Maha Kumbh. The DGP highlighted that this is the second short film in the awareness campaign, the first being on "Accommodation Scams."
The DGP also appealed to citizens to remain vigilant against cyber fraud and refrain from sharing sensitive information, such as OTPs, with unknown individuals.