We have been hearing about online fraud for quite some time. Many people have lost crores of rupees to fraudsters who siphoned money from their bank accounts. Places like Jamtara in Jharkhand and Nuh in Haryana have become widely known as centers of such cyber fraud. Even before this menace could subside, a new form of deception has emerged on mobile phones, now being referred to as “Digital Arrest.”
Fraudsters behind digital arrest scams pose as officials from agencies such as the CBI, RBI, police, income tax department, or narcotics control authorities. They often gather substantial information about you in advance—your family, friends, profession, and other personal details. They speak with great confidence and in a threatening tone.
During video calls, these scammers may appear dressed in police or official uniforms, with backgrounds resembling government offices. It creates a convincing illusion that they are genuine officials. They accuse you of committing a serious offense, warn of imprisonment, and threaten damage to your reputation. To “resolve” the issue, they demand money.
Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to such fraud. Limited familiarity with technology, a tendency to trust quickly, and fear arising from threatening language at this stage of life make them easy targets. Just a few weeks ago, an 82-year-old CEO of a highly reputed business group was defrauded of seven crore rupees by cybercriminals using such tactics.
Let me share one example of a digital arrest scam. A video call comes from a girl; you respond, and some inappropriate conversation takes place, which she secretly records. The call is then disconnected, and you think nothing of it. The next day, a man calls claiming to be a senior police officer. He alleges that you were engaged in obscene conversation, that the recording is with them, and that you could be arrested. He threatens to upload the video on YouTube, leading to public humiliation. To avoid this, you are asked to immediately transfer money. Many such cases have come to light.
Another example: you receive a call stating that a parcel addressed to you from abroad has been intercepted, and drugs were found in it. The caller, posing as a senior narcotics officer, offers to “settle” the matter in exchange for money. Fraudsters are constantly devising new methods to trap people.
The situation has become so serious that even the Prime Minister has addressed it. In the 115th episode of “Mann Ki Baat,” broadcast on 27 October, he discussed this issue in detail. He emphasized that no one should be afraid of such calls, as no investigative agency conducts inquiries over phone or video calls in this manner.
The Prime Minister outlined a three-step approach to digital safety: “Stop – Think – Act.”
When you receive such a call, first Stop—do not panic, stay calm, avoid hasty decisions, do not share personal information, and if possible, take screenshots and record the interaction.
Next, Think—no government agency issues such threats over phone or video calls, nor do they demand money in this way.
Finally, Act—call the National Cyber Helpline at 1930, report the incident on cybercrime.gov.in, inform your family and the police, and preserve all evidence. These three steps can safeguard your digital security.
The Prime Minister reiterated that there is no such concept as “digital arrest” in law. It is purely fraud, deception, and a criminal act carried out by organized groups who are enemies of society. He assured that various investigative agencies, in coordination with state governments, are working to combat this menace. A National Cyber Coordination Centre has been established to improve coordination among these agencies. He also urged citizens to remain vigilant and spread awareness. Those who fall victim to such fraud should share their experiences widely. Students, too, should be involved in this awareness drive. Only collective effort can tackle this challenge.
Senior citizens should make an effort to learn more about smartphones from younger family members. They should avoid responding to calls from unknown numbers. If necessary, they can send a message stating they are busy and ask the caller to communicate via text. They should never click on unknown links received on their phones, nor share personal or banking details with anyone. These small precautions can go a long way in protecting against such scams.
Author
The author is the founder of the Never Say Retire mission. In order to achieve this goal, he also runs this website and his Facebook group Never Say Retire Forum has Hundreds and Thousands of members today.
