Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru And More: Dark Clouds Of Digital Arrest Over Cities—Know What It Is

A digital arrest is the one in which victims receive a phone call, an e-mail, or a message claiming they are under investigation for illegal activities, such as identity theft or money laundering.
All about 'Digital Arrest' scam

All about 'Digital Arrest' scam

Photo : Times Now
A recent scam, dubbed “digital arrest,” has led to substantial financial losses for individuals and businesses, totalling crores of rupees. In this scam, fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to deceive their victims. Prime Minister Modi has issued a warning to the public about this scam, urging them to report any such incidents to the cyber helpline. Furthermore, the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) has shared a list of tactics used by these fraudsters to execute online scams, including the digital arrest scheme.
Indians lost Rs 120.30 crore to “digital arrest” frauds in the first quarter of this year alone, as highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, according to government cybercrime data.

Recent Incidents Of 'Digital Arrest' In Metro Cities

1. A 44-year-old IT employee, who was placed under "digital arrest" in Hyderabad by cyber criminals in a fake money laundering case for nearly 30 hours, managed to escape from the crooks with the help of police without losing any amount. The ordeal began for the techie from the early hours of October 26 and continued till October 27, with the fraudsters posing as Mumbai police officials, making voice and video calls to him through an instant messaging app with instructions not to disconnect their call, police said on Monday.
2. A 73-year-old man from Pune was forced to remain confined to his home and not talk to anyone as part of ‘digital arrest’ for four days by cyber criminals posing as Mumbai police officers who threatened his arrest in drug trafficking and money laundering cases and made him pay Rs 45 lakh.
3. A 24-year-old employee from Indiranagar fell victim to a “digital arrest” scam, where a gang posing as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Mumbai crime branch blackmailed her with a fabricated case. They extorted Rs 5.4 lakh from her, which was part of the insurance money she had received following her father's death.
4. A 29-year-old man from western Bengaluru was held under ‘digital arrest’ for six days and was cheated of over Rs 14 lakh by scamsters posing as telecom and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials.
5. A 67-year-old Mumbai-based woman was placed under "digital arrest" by online fraudsters, who forced her to pay Rs 14 lakh in exchange for clearing her name in a non-existent money laundering case.

What is a 'Digital Arrest' scam?

A digital arrest is the one in which victims receive a phone call, an e-mail, or a message claiming they are under investigation for illegal activities, such as identity theft or money laundering. "The scammer threatens the victim with arrest or legal consequences unless he takes immediate action. They often create a sense of panic to prevent rational thinking. Under the guise of "clearing their name," "assisting with the investigation," or "refundable security deposit/escrow account," individuals are coerced into transferring large sums of money to specified bank accounts or UPI IDs," the advisory said.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of the Digital Arrest Scam

  • Be wary of calls from individuals claiming to be officials who assert that you are in trouble. Remember, legitimate law enforcement officials will never request payment or banking information.
  • Cybercriminals often use pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency. Resist the urge to act quickly without verifying the information.
  • If you suspect a call may be fraudulent, confirm the identity of the caller by directly contacting the agency they claim to represent. Stay calm and don’t panic.
  • Avoid sharing personal information, and never disclose sensitive personal or financial details over the phone or video calls, especially to unknown numbers.
  • Be aware that government agencies do not use platforms like WhatsApp or Skype for official communications.
  • If you believe you are being scammed, report the incident to your local police or cyber crime authorities immediately.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from City and around the world.
Nikita Jha author

Nikita is a journalist at Times Now, specialising in city desk coverage. A graduate of Delhi University, she balances her professional life with creat...View More

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