A 25-year-old student from IIT Bombay was duped of Rs. 7.29 lakh after being digitally arrested by scammers posing as govt officials. This incident adds to an already long series of digital arrest cases nationwide. 

The student’s identity is unknown, allegedly he received a call from an unknown number in July. 

The caller claimed to be an official from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). They told the student that 17 complaints of illegal activities were registered against his number and that to avoid the deactivation of his number he had to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from the police, further, they told the student that the call was going to be transferred to the cyber crime branch. 

The student then received a video call from Aman dressed as a police officer. The fake cop demanded the student’s aaAadharard number, they then went on to say that he was involved in money laundering, forcing the student to transfer Rs. 29,500 via UPI. 

The scammer called the latter the next day and took Rs. 7 lakh from his account after he was forced to share details of his bank account.

What is digital arrest?

This a new form of cyber fraud in which the scammers pretend to be law enforcement officers and threaten people over phone calls or video calls and hold them under any false pretext of arrest. 

The Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) released a list earlier this week that discusses over a dozen methods that scammers in the nation use on people online, including using "digital arrest" to trick people into parting with their money and personal information.

A high-level committee was established by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in October to look into and take swift action against those who commit digital arrest scams, which deceitfully link innocent people to narcotics and money laundering cases.

The Ministry's Cyber Wing has blocked 6 lakh cellphone phones in connection with the scam, and more than 6,000 complaints about digital arrests have been filed so far this year.

How to stay safe?

The prevalence of cybercrime is increasing in today's digital environment. Fraudsters are coming up with new ways to trick people, such as phishing emails and "digital arrest" schemes. 

Here’s how you can stay safe:

  1. Beware of Suspicious Calls or Messages
    If someone claims you’re under “digital arrest” or demands money to resolve a fake legal issue, it’s a scam. Do not panic, and never share personal information over the phone.

  2. Verify Before Acting: Always cross-check claims with official sources. Legitimate authorities won’t ask for payments or sensitive details online or via calls.

  3. Use Official Channels to Report: If you suspect cybercrime, call 1930 or report it online at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Quick reporting can prevent further harm.

  4. Stay Updated on Cybersecurity: Regularly update passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all accounts.

  5. Protect Your Information: Never share sensitive details like bank account information or OTPs.

By staying vigilant and sharing this information with others, we can reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber scams. 

Be safe, spread the word, and help build a safer online community!