City police launch #BannGayaPopat campaign to tackle cybercrime

Hyderabad police has found a quirky new way to spread awareness about cybercrimes through their audio campaign called ‘Bann Gaya Popat’. Launched on Sunday, the campaign features a series of catchy jingles with a strong message from Tollywood superstars Vijay Deverakonda, Jr NTR and filmmaker Rajamouli urging people to beware of cyber criminals and not end up becoming ‘popat’.“Udyogam kavala babu antu phonu chesi ninu adugutaru americalo job undi kanna antu planu chesi asa pedataru ..ganta lo visalu nimishamlo ticketlu meku enduku tension antaru (You will receive calls promising you a job in America and raise your hopes.They will tell you that you won’t even require visas or passports),” goes the jingle, which is crooned by singer IshaqVali.
“Meku job ichevadiki me talent kavali gani me dabbulu kadu evaro teliyanivallaki guddiga nammi mosapokandi cyber neragallanundi jagrathaga undandi (People will give you a job based on your talent and not by taking money. Do not blindly believe strangers who offer you jobs in return for money. Be wary of cybercrime),”Rajamouli says in the jingle.
Similarly, Jr NTR warns netizens not to accept friend requests from random strangers as they may have an ulterior motive. Actor Vijay Deverakonda urges people not to fall for people proposing marriage on the Internet without even meeting them in person.
“Matrimonial site lo parichayam, Facebook lo meetings, Skype lo engagement, pellikochesariki endukandi antha ajagratha untam? Oka ammai leda abbai profile chusinapudu valla salary entha vallu andamga unaraani kakurthi padakandi, asalu vallu nijamga unnara genuine aa kada chusukondi arateyandi cyber neragallanundi
jagrathaga undandi (What is this culture of meeting or seeing people on matrimonial sites, meeting them on Facebook, and getting engaged on skype. Why are we so careless when it comes to our weddings? When you see a boy or a girl’s profile, don’t go by their salary or looks. First find out if they are actually genuine. Don’t fall prey to cybercrime),” Vijay says in his inimitable style in the jingle.
Speaking about city police’s new initiative, KCS Raghu Vir, additional DCP, Hyderabad Cyber Crimes, says, “‘Bann Gaya Popat’ is a special audio campaign designed to spread awareness on cyber crimes happening around us. Through this campaign, we specifically wanted to educate the youth and hence roped in youth icons like Jr NTR and Vijay Deverakonda. Bann Gaya Popat is also a catchy phrase that the youth will connect to and hopefully it will achieve the desired result.”
Apart from Vijay and NTR, city police also has plans to rope in other celebrities to join the cause too. “We have just launched this campaign and shall actively play on as many platforms as we can to reach maximum number of people. We are planning to rope in other high profile actors and sportspersons to be a part of this campaign,” Raghu Vir adds.