It aims to spread awareness and help people stay alert against digital fraud. Police have urged citizens to strictly follow this formula for their own safety.
Mumbai: Mumbai Police has launched a simple yet effective formula called the ‘ABCD of Cyber Safety’ to safeguard citizens from rising cybercrimes. The initiative, promoted through the police’s official social media handles, aims to spread awareness and help people stay alert against digital fraud. Police have urged citizens to strictly follow this formula for their own safety.
What is the ‘ABCD of Cyber Safety’?
The formula uses the first four letters of the English alphabet — A, B, C, and D — each representing a key precaution against cyber fraud:
- A for Avoid Sharing Personal Details: Citizens are advised not to share sensitive information such as Aadhaar numbers, bank details, or passwords on any online platform.
- B for Beware of Unknown Links and Emails: Police warn people to stay cautious while opening links or emails from unknown sources, as these are the most common gateways for online fraud.
- C for Create Strong Passwords: Users should set unique and strong passwords for every account, combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- D for Dial 1930: In case of cyber fraud, victims must immediately call the helpline number 1930 to report the incident. Police emphasize that the first 1.5 to 2 hours after the fraud are considered the “golden hours” for taking action.
The central message of the formula is clear — “Read, write, and click with caution,” as awareness is the strongest shield against cybercrime.
Cybercrime Trends in Mumbai
According to official data, 2,188 cybercrime cases were registered in Mumbai between January and June 2025, showing a 17% decline compared to 2,638 cases during the same period in 2024. However, financial losses remain a major concern. In just the first half of 2025, cyber fraud led to losses worth ₹600 crore, whereas in 2024, the total annual losses stood at ₹750 crore.
With the ‘ABCD of Cyber Safety,’ Mumbai Police hopes to further reduce both the number of cases and the financial damage caused by cyber frauds.
