Parmeet Sethi and Amit Dubey, cybercrime expert

As we live our lives online these days, we are constantly plagued by the fear that one day, someone may hack into our Instagram. Or steal money from our bank account. Or catfish us as a lover on a dating app. The possibilities of being cheated online are endless. It’s then that a show like Hack Crimes Online on Amazon miniTV can help. Based on a book by India’s prominent cyber-crime investigator, Amit Dubey, and directed by actor/director Parmeet Sethi, the show sheds light on the world of hackers and how they steal money and private information from their victims. “When I read Amit’s book, I realised this was so topical. I deep dived into it, and knew I had to make this,” says Sethi, who says he has a preference towards directing and acting in crime/drama shows.

His last appearance was in Special Ops 1.5 in 2021, a role he will be reprising in the next season. “I wanted to focus on stories that weren’t very technical, and were different from each other.”

The show follows the Cyber Crime Unit as they dismantle drug syndicates, thwart bank and ATM frauds, and tackle child pornography rings. ACP Ashutosh, played by actor Vipul Gupta, leads a team of hackers, including the feisty Shakti (Riddhi Kumar), the tech-savvy Jigar (Akash Ayyar), and the resourceful Girish (Akhil Khattar).

Dubey, who has been a cybercrime investigator for 15 years, and has written Return of the Trojan Horse: Tales of Criminal Investigation and Hidden Files: Tales of Cyber Crime Investigation, says that any kind of crime these days can only be solved by taking help from the cyber world.

“Every criminal has a digital footprint. I always say, ‘we are the product of the data that has been fed to us since birth’. If that data gets manipulated, it’s going to be a mess. Even cyber awareness workshops don’t work, because modus operandi keeps changing rapidly. The best way to get information out is through a show like this, which can entertain through a story and also make a person aware. It breaks down how a cybercriminal takes advantage of you, but also how the same cyber space can help us catch the criminal,” he says.

As he was making the show, Sethi was also shocked by the kind of crimes he came across. “All our passwords, all your information is at risk, and unless we are a cyber expert, we can’t really protect ourselves. My phone used to store my passwords, and I have removed them. I don’t send any kind of messages with personal information. I don’t tap on anything at all,” he says, adding that all he wants is people to be entertained as well as educated.

Sethi recently lost out on a new credit card because he refused to believe the message sent by the bank or click on a link. The reactions he has been getting for the show have warmed Sethi’s heart. “People relate to it, and know that it will help them. Everyone has also loved the fast-paced narrative. Some wanted the episodes to be longer [they are around 25 minutes]. But that’s the nature of the beast—this was the limit given to me, and I think I have delivered.”

Dubey, who has also consulted with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Empowerment of Women regarding Cyber Safety and Security of Women, gives one last warning. “Everything you are putting online, it always exists, and there is a risk it may fall into the wrong hands. Even voice-enabled devices can hear everything we say. Follow a zero-trust model. You never know who the person interacting with you online is, and what they are after. Be aware, and only click on any kind of link, after being very sure on what you are clicking on. You can also install a few apps on your phone which will help you verify content. Look after yourself.”