How to protect yourself from such scams – Firstpost

‘You are under digital arrest.’

The phone is ringing.

The caller informs the recipient that the package he sent to Taiwan has been intercepted. Authorities found five passports, a bank card, 4 kg of clothing and MDMA drugs inside the package.

The 77-year-old woman insists she has never sent a package to anyone. However, the caller claims that his Aadhaar card details were used in the crime and advises him to talk to a Mumbai police officer.

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What should the woman do at this point?

In such a situation, stress is inevitable. Your heart pounds, panic takes over, and you’re completely unsure of your next step.

That’s exactly what happened to a woman living in South Mumbai.

‘Digital custody’ for 1 month

In what appears to be the city’s longest ‘digital detention’ by cyber crooks posing as law enforcement officials, a 77-year-old woman from South Mumbai was kept in ‘digital detention’ for over a month.

According to the police, the fraudsters threatened to arrest him and cheated him of Rs 3.8 billion. Times of India reported. The victim, a housewife, lives with her retired husband (75) and her two children live abroad.

According to the report, his call was transferred to a person posing as a police officer, who accused him of being involved in a money laundering case through his Aadhaar card.

A police officer told TOI“The complainant was then asked to download the Skype app and told police officers would speak to him via the app. He was ordered not to disconnect and not to tell anyone about the incident. A man pretending to be IPS officer Anand Rana sought the details of her bank accounts. Later, another man claiming to be George Mathew (IPS) from the finance department came calling and asked him to transfer money to bank accounts given by them so that they could investigate the money. They said if it was found to be ‘deficit’ the money would be returned to him.”

The scammers asked him to go to the bank and transfer money. After making the transfer, they refunded Rs 15 lakh to his account, claiming it was ‘clear’, which enabled them to gain his trust.

They finally convinced her to transfer all the money from her and her husband’s joint accounts. Over time, he transferred Rs 3.8 million to six different accounts, the media outlet reported.

Mind you, this isn’t just a single incident. There has been an alarming increase in cases of ‘digital arrest’ in recent times. It is important to understand what this scam means and how to protect yourself from these types of scam calls.

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What is a digital arrest?

Digital arrest is a fraud tactic used by cybercriminals who pretend to have the authority to arrest people through digital means, often through phone calls or online communication.

These criminals often impersonate law enforcement officials or government agencies such as the state police, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). In some cases, they even pose as judges to make their claims seem more credible. New Indian Express he said in a report.

Scammers contact their targets via voice or video call, forcing them to comply with their demands. They often extort money from victims and effectively trap them at home under the false pretext of an ‘arrest’. Deccan Messenger reported.

In such cases, victims are often placed under constant visual surveillance through platforms such as Skype or other video conferencing tools. This allows scammers to maintain control until their demands are met.

Specifically, scams often involve accusations that the victim has sent or received a package containing illegal or contraband goods, such as drugs or a fake ID, or that their phone is being used for illegal activities. These false accusations create panic, making it easier for scammers to exploit their victims.

How common are these ‘digital arrest’ scams?

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, a sharp increase in cybercrime cases has been reported over the years: 3,466 in 2017, 3,353 in 2018, 6,229 in 2019, 10,395 in 2020, 14,007 in 2021 and 17,470 in 2022. case. , Deccan Messenger he said in a report.

In March 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a press release warning the public about scams involving blackmail and digital detention. Cyber ​​criminals often impersonate officials from law enforcement or government agencies such as Police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), the notification said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also touched on the issue and warned people not to fall victim to these scams.

“Be careful of digital arrest scams. There is no system such as digital arrest in the law. “No government agency will ever contact you via phone or video call for such an investigation,” he said, urging citizens to report such incidents to the cyber hotline.

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How can you prevent yourself from such scams?

The best way to protect yourself from scams like digital detention is through awareness and vigilance. Here are some practical steps to protect yourself:

• Actual legal notifications about illegal activities are never sent through unofficial channels such as WhatsApp, Telegram or similar applications. No legitimate regulatory authority will ever solicit money online to resolve a case or investigation.

• If you receive a suspicious call or message, contact the organization or agency directly using verified contact information to confirm the authenticity of the claim.

• If you know you are not involved in any illegal activity, stay calm, even if you are threatened with arrest. Scammers often succeed because victims panic even though they have no reason to be afraid.

• Report any suspected fraud to your local police or cybercrime authorities immediately.

• Follow CERT-In advice, which advises you to remain “vigilant and informed” about emerging cyber threats.

• Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from law enforcement or government agencies. Scammers often use fake nine-digit phone numbers to impersonate authorities.

• Never share your personal information, bank details or passwords unless you are sure of the legitimacy of the request. Avoid clicking on unsolicited payment links or participating in video calls from unverified sources.

India faces a wide range of cyber crimes, including fake investment schemes and online dating scams. But the “digital arrest” scam is particularly concerning due to its invasive nature. A carefully planned incident infiltrates every aspect of the victim’s life. According to a BBC According to the report, scammers sometimes appear in video calls, while other times they remain anonymous using voice only.

A senior police official Deepak Kumar Singh said: BBC“The fraudsters comprise educated men and women who are fluent in English and various Indian languages, including engineering graduates, cybersecurity experts and banking professionals. Most of them work through Telegram channels.”

These fraudsters exploit people’s trust in authority and increasing dependence on digital platforms, making them particularly difficult to detect. But awareness and a simple checklist – coupled with staying calm – can go a long way in preventing such digital detention scams.

With input from agencies