Digital arrest scam: what it is and what to do

हिंदी सार: "डिजिटल अरेस्ट" कानून में नहीं है। CBI, पुलिस, कस्टम, ED या जज वीडियो कॉल पर गिरफ़्तार नहीं करते। ऐसी कॉल आए तो कॉल काट दीजिए, पैसे मत भेजिए, घरवालों को बताइए, और पैसे चले गए हों तो तुरंत 1930 पर कॉल करें या cybercrime.gov.in पर शिकायत करें।

A call, SMS or WhatsApp message says a parcel in your name has drugs, or that your Aadhaar or bank account is linked to money laundering. Then someone in "uniform" on a video call says you are under "digital arrest" and must stay on camera. Soon comes the demand: send money to "verify" yourself or get "bail".

This is a scam.

The one fact to remember

"Digital arrest" is not a legal process. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) said in a public advisory that the CBI, police, customs, ED and judges do not arrest people through video calls. Fraudsters use the name to scare you, keep you on camera, and push you to transfer money.

How it usually unfolds

1. Contact. A call, SMS or WhatsApp message from someone posing as a police, customs or agency officer.
2. Accusation. You or a family member is said to be involved in drugs, money laundering or a parcel with illegal items.
3. Pressure. You are told to keep your camera on, not to hang up and not to tell anyone.
4. Payment. You are asked to transfer money to a "safe" or "verification" account, or to pay "bail".

Red flags

• You are told you cannot hang up or speak to family.
• Money must be sent right now to prove you are innocent.
• The caller shows an ID, a uniform or an official-looking office on video. These can all be faked.
• You are asked for an OTP, Aadhaar number or bank details.

What to do

• Stop. Hang up. A real agency will never arrest you on a call.
• Do not send money and do not install any app the caller suggests.
• Talk to someone you trust at home. Scammers depend on you staying alone and scared.
• If you have lost money: call the national cyber crime helpline 1930 at once and report on cybercrime.gov.in. Also tell your bank immediately.
• Keep evidence: call logs, screenshots, chat messages and transaction receipts.
• Report the number: the Chakshu facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal lets you report suspected fraud calls and messages.

If someone you know is on such a call right now, ask them to hang up.

Sources

• Report on the I4C advisory: Tribune India (PTI)
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in
• Sanchar Saathi (Chakshu): sancharsaathi.gov.in