Cyber Safe: Digital Arrest Becoming A ‘Nationwide Threat’, Here’s How To Avoid And Report It
Ultimately, the most powerful tool against these sophisticated “digital arrest” scams is awareness. As these fraudsters evolve their tactics, so must our vigilance. Always remember the key takeaway from this report: no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever demand money or conduct an investigation over the phone. By staying calm, refusing to pay, and immediately reporting suspicious calls to official channels like the 1930 helpline, we can collectively combat this growing threat and protect ourselves from becoming another statistic. Stay informed, stay cautious, and trust your instincts—your financial safety depends on it.
- By: Abhishek Parashar
- Published: Sep 30, 2025 at 10:34 AM
- Updated: Sep 30, 2025 at 03:13 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News). In an incident in Gurugram, a woman lost a whopping ₹5.85 crore in just two transactions. Earlier, in an incident in Chandigarh, scammers threatened a woman by claiming her Aadhaar was linked to a drug parcel and then duped her of ₹1.1 million for ‘bail’. In Mysore, two elderly people were also duped of ₹1.92 crore after received calls from fraudsters posing as NIA officers.
In another incident from Hyderabad, a retired employee transferred Rs 49 lakh to these fraudsters, fearing ‘arrest’.
Such incidents in Gurugram, Mysore, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh demonstrate that digital arrests are no longer isolated incidents but a growing nationwide concern. According to news reports, threats extend far beyond individual cities, prompting authorities to consider it a ‘national threat’.
While the old school methods of digital fraud and scams targeted the comparatively less digitally aware and senior citizens, the victims of digital arrest are relatively more educated and professional people.
Home Minister Amit Shah shared Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address to the citizens, raising awareness about frauds being committed in the name of ‘digital arrest’, through an X (previously Twitter) post, and said that no government agency, including the police, CBI, Narcotics, or RBI, conducts investigations through phone or video calls.
According to information provided to the Rajya Sabha in March 2024, a total of 1.23 lakh digital arrests and related cybercrimes cases were reported in 2024, with losses amounting to approximately ₹2000 crore. This is nearly six times higher than in 2023, when the number of such cases was only 60,676 and the losses amounted to only ₹339 crore.
At the same time, in the first quarter of 2025, 17,718f such cases have been registered and the lost amount is over Rs 200 crore.
What is ‘digital arrest’?
The question is whether there is a provision in Indian law for ‘Digital arrest’?
The answer is no! Indian law does not allow anyone to be digitally arrested, as there is no provision for such detention or arrest in Indian law.
According to the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, ‘police’ and ‘law and order’ are state subjects. States/Union Territories, through their Law Enforcement Aagencies (LEA), are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of crimes, including cybercrime and digital arrest scams. The central government only support states in strengthening mechanisms to address cybercrimes, including digital arrests, in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
What is the method?
This information is based on reported cases and may not apply to every case. Scammers constantly devise new tactics, which may differ from the methods described here.
Now, let’s look at how you can protect yourself from this kind of scam.
From the cases reported so far, it’s clear that any phone or video call could be a digital arrest scam!
Here’s how it typically unfolds.
The caller begins by introducing himself as an officer of the government or any law enforcement agency, like the police, ED, or CBI!
Soon after, they accuse you of being involved in crimes, such as money laundering, cyber crime, illegal international transfers, drug smuggling, and threaten arrest.
To appear convincing, they might show you what looks like an FIR, a police ID, a legal notice, or even a deepfake video. Then, they may demand money to settle the case or avoid arrest! Once the payment is made, they vanish!
Caution is the best protection!
Therefore, if someone tries to trap you in this way, keep the following points in mind.
Disconnect immediately: If you talk too much, they will trap you.
Don’t send any money: No matter how many threats they make, don’t transfer a single rupee.
Gather evidence: Take a screenshot of the call, message, or video.
Complain: Immediately call 1930 (Cyber Crime Helpline) and inform the nearest Cyber Police.
Inform the bank: If you have shared any bank details, immediately call your bank and freeze your account (temporarily).
Where to complain?
Report the incident on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in or 1930, a 24X7 helpline.
Following these precautionary steps, immediately go to the nearest cyber police station and register a case.
To stay updated on banking fraud, scams, and prevention tips, follow the official social media handles of RBI, SEBI, and other regulatory authorities.
Disclaimer: This article aims to raise awareness about financial fraud. The information is sourced from government agencies, banks, other official sources, and credible news reports and is intended for informational purposes only.
Conclusion: Ultimately, the most powerful tool against these sophisticated “digital arrest” scams is awareness. As these fraudsters evolve their tactics, so must our vigilance. Always remember the key takeaway from this report: no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever demand money or conduct an investigation over the phone. By staying calm, refusing to pay, and immediately reporting suspicious calls to official channels like the 1930 helpline, we can collectively combat this growing threat and protect ourselves from becoming another statistic. Stay informed, stay cautious, and trust your instincts—your financial safety depends on it.
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