The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre issued a public advisory warning about the rise in ‘digital arrest’ scams in India. The advisory emphasized that law enforcement agencies such as the CBI, police, customs, ED, or judges do not conduct arrests via video calls and urged the public to be cautious of such schemes.
The notice featured logos of social media platforms like WhatsApp and Skype, highlighting that these scams frequently involve communication through these channels. It included the message, “Don’t Panic, Stay Alert. CBI/Police/Custom/ED/Judges DO NOT arrest you on video call.”
WhatsApp and Skype have stated that they are working with government cybersecurity agencies to strengthen user safety in light of these incidents. The advisory also encouraged individuals to report such crimes by calling helpline number 1930 or visiting the cyber crime’s official website.
The urgency of the warning follows recent incidents, including the case of a senior official from the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) who was defrauded of ₹55 lakh in a ‘digital arrest’ scheme, leading to three arrests. Another incident involved a 35-year-old woman who was contacted by someone posing as an official from Terminal 2 of Mumbai International Airport, falsely claiming there was an arrest warrant against her.
What is digital arrest and how does it happen?
For those unfamiliar, a ‘digital arrest’ is a cybercrime tactic where scammers contact individuals via SMS or video calls, pretending to be officials from government investigative agencies. In these scenarios, fraudsters falsely accuse the victim or their family members of being involved in criminal activities like drug trafficking or money laundering, claiming that they are being arrested over the video call.
The cybercriminals then manipulate the victim into staying confined at their location, instructing them to keep their mobile phone cameras on as part of the so-called ‘digital arrest.’ Eventually, they demand money through online transfers, claiming that the payment is necessary to secure the victim’s release.
