In India, online fraud is becoming a growing concern, with cyber scammers coming up with more clever ways to deceive people. It feels like every day there’s news of someone falling victim to a scam. Thousands of people have lost huge amounts of money, often tricked by offers of work-from-home jobs, fake KYC updates through suspicious links or even threats of "digital arrest." These fraudsters are preying on unsuspecting individuals, causing real harm to families and communities.

To protect yourself from these scams, it’s crucial to stay alert online and avoid trusting anyone who reaches outwith promises of easy money or financial help. Scammers often make threatening calls or send messages with offers of quick ways to make money or investment opportunities through online groups. Here are some of the common tactics cyber scammers are using in India to deceive people.

What is a Digital arrest scam

The term "digital arrest" has become increasingly common, leading to significant financial losses for individuals and businesses, amounting to crores of rupees. This scam is carried out under the pretence of a "digital arrest," with scammers using threats to trick victims into handing over money. 

Victims of the digital arrest scam receive calls from individuals pretending to be law enforcement officers, accusing them of serious crimes like money laundering or tax evasion. To make their threats seem more real, these scammers often send fake legal documents and demand immediate payment to "resolve" the issue and avoid arrest. They use constant calls or messages to create panic, leaving victims with little time to verify the claims before acting out of fear.

While the term "digital arrest" does not exist in the Indian Penal Code, many people may not be aware of this. To protect yourself, never share personal or financial information over unsolicited calls. If you receive such calls, hang up immediately and, if possible, report the incident to the Cyber Crime Cell to help prevent others from falling victim.

Many people have fallen victim to this scam, including well-known 31-year-old YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna. He shared his harrowing experience in an Instagram reel that quickly went viral. In the video, Bahuguna explained the tactics used by cyber scammers and how they manipulate innocent individuals through psychological tricks. Bahuguna said he lost Rs 2.5 lakh during the scam.

People are being trapped through various forms of scams some of these are Illegal parcel scams and Work-from-home scams. KYC Scam, emergency call scam and stock market investment scam. 

How victims get trapped

Fraudsters carry out digital arrest scams by researching their victims. In some cases, they can access personal information, like online shopping orders, from breached data sold on the dark web.

By mentioning details of the victim's past purchases, scammers seem more credible, making the victim believe that only law enforcement or a government agency could know such things, as explained by Tandon.

Victims have reported being told to download Skype for a video call, where scammers appear in official police uniforms. They also use fake letters and IDs with official logos to appear legitimate.

Scammers often impersonate high-ranking officials to make the situation seem more serious and may even claim the victim is involved in high-profile cases, like the money laundering investigation of Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.

Recently, scammers have started using advanced AI tools to clone the voices of a victim's family members to create the illusion of distress.

Tandon adds that the overload of online information and excessive use of digital technology has affected people's ability to think clearly, making them more likely to panic or be intimidated.

Where do these scam calls come from

It was reported that initially most of these calls were originating from Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam," Tandon said. The I4C has identified that scammers in these countries operate out of casinos, which were shuttered during the pandemic, and are located within so-called 'scam compounds.'

According to a United Nations report released in October, Indian youth are being lured to these countries with job offers in IT and administrative work. While some willingly visit these scam compounds to undergo training on how to perpetrate scams, others are allegedly held against their will.

How to handle such scams 

Awareness is key to handling these digital arrest scams. While speaking on his radio program Mann Ki Baat on October 27, PM Modi brought attention to the issue of 'digital arrests' and urged people to be wary of the scam. He said, "Beware of digital arrest frauds. There is no system of digital arrest under the law. No government agency will ever contact you via phone or video call for such an investigation."

Skype, owned by Microsoft, has also implemented real-time alerts to warn users when certain keywords are typed, as part of efforts to combat digital arrest scams. The I4C has also requested the removal of approximately 1,700 Skype IDs associated with these scams. 

Tandon emphasized the importance of reporting digital arrest frauds within 24 hours (the "golden hour") through government platforms like the Chakshu portal and the national cyber crime helpline. This allows law enforcement to quickly notify banks, payment wallets, and other intermediaries to block fraudulent transactions.