Mr. Ashok Kumar is a highly educated and business savvy man who recently retired from a prestigious bank. But one wrong move – answering a WhatsApp call – changed his life forever. On the morning of October 10th, his phone rang at 9:15am. It was a WhatsApp video call. Meanwhile, a man in a police uniform, introducing himself as Pramod, “Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mumbai”, tells Ashok that a bank account has been opened in his name and he has received a loan of Rs 100 million. Fraudulently. He was told that a notice had been issued against him and that he was:
Similarly, on the night of September 1, eminent doctor Dr. Anvisa was about to go to bed when she received a call on her smartphone. The person on the other end, Shamsher, identified himself as a “CBI official” and claimed that a money laundering warrant had been issued against her.
He said she was digitally arrested and had to participate in a video call. Terrified, Dr. Anvisa transferred Rs 7 million to the fraudster’s account.
These are just a few examples of the growing number of cybercrimes, with scammers constantly devising new ways to scam people through their smartphones. With nearly 700 million smartphone users in India, 80% of whom are educated, the incidence of cybercrime has skyrocketed.
According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, an average of 7,000 internet fraud cases occur every day in India, a significant increase of 113% from 2021 to 2023.
Police say scammers are constantly evolving their methods, from fake lottery wins demanding tax payments to job scams and phishing using OTPs. Now they have introduced a new technique called “digital arrest.”
Scammers create fake scenarios by impersonating police officers or court officials to trap unsuspecting victims into transferring large sums of money. Many people were killed, including respected figures like SP Oswal, chairman of the Waldman Group. Oswal was scammed out of 7 billion rupees by a gang posing as high-ranking officials and even staged a virtual courtroom scene to dupe him.
Another case involved a retired major general from Noida who was falsely accused of smuggling illegal goods and lost Rs 2,000 crore. The scammers tricked him into believing he was being digitally arrested and encouraged him to send money.
A woman from Indore was detained for five days under ‘digital arrest’ after she was threatened with charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering. She ended up transferring 4.6 million rupees to the scammer.
“This alarming rise in ‘digital arrest’ scams highlights the need for increased public awareness. Real authorities should never initiate a video call or request money in such a way. No. If you receive such a call, we recommend that you contact your local police or law enforcement immediately.
Scammers use sophisticated techniques such as speaking in formal English, displaying fake identification during video calls, and creating realistic backgrounds of government offices and courtrooms. They often target elderly, retired, and highly educated professionals with fabricated accusations and demand large sums of money by presenting seemingly legitimate documents. Public vigilance and vigilance are extremely important to prevent such digital scams,” a police official said.
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Cybercriminals contact victims through phone or video calls using VOIP services, WhatsApp, or Skype, usually from international numbers. They impersonate government officials, such as police officers or representatives of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), presenting themselves as authority figures and creating an immediate sense of threat.
Digital arrest scams prey on fear, urgency, and emotional manipulation. Victims are left alone and inundated with false accusations and threats of swift legal action aimed at forcing them to pay.
Types of fraud
Digital arrest scammers are good at concocting convincing stories and using different scenarios to deceive their targets. Common tactics include:
Aadhaar or phone number misuse: Victims are falsely accused of using Aadhaar or phone numbers for illegal transactions, giving the threat credibility.
Real authorities would never initiate a video call or ask for money in that way. If you receive such a call, we recommend that you contact your local police immediately.
police personnel
Family involvement: Scammers may claim that family members are involved in illegal activities and force victims to pay quickly to avoid arrest of their loved ones.
How to stay safe
Don’t trust unknown numbers: Be wary of calls from unknown numbers.
Verify the caller’s identity: Verify the caller’s credentials by contacting the agency directly using their official phone number.
Avoid sharing sensitive information: Never disclose personal information such as Aadhaar number, bank account information, credit card information, etc.
Stay Calm: Scammers thrive on fear and confusion. If you receive a suspicious call, take a breath, hang up, and assess the situation before responding.
