Consider this: A person gets a call from someone who introduces himself as a cop and tells him there are suspicious transactions in his bank accounts. That is what happened to this PhD scholar from Hyderabad, who became the target of one of the scariest scams—something called a “digital arrest.”

He, in a very professional manner, introduced himself as a police officer and stated that there was an issue. Being scared of going against the law and having faith in the ‘police official,’ he was eventually forced to reveal his scholar’s bank details, which were supposed to be helpful in the investigation. He had no idea about his entering the threshold of a skilfully fabricated trap.

Things escalated soon after. One day he was told to log onto a video call—into isolation, away from family and friends—and wait for the fraudsters to do what they could to manipulate him into compliance. What they did is called “digital arrest,” whereby victims are forced to log in continuously under some such false promise of resolving legal issues or investigations that never took place.

A victim who is an architect themselves was also lured in the same fashion and was forced to pay 60 lakh for release from such digital prison. It goes on to depict just how merciless these fraudsters really are in extracting their money through tactics of fear and compulsion.

How to Safeguard Yourself:

Check the identity of the callers more particularly who introduce or claim themselves to be from any law enforcing agencies or government departments. The genuine authority very seldom seeks sensitive information over phone.

Keep Personal Information Safe: Do not give sensitive information, like bank accounts, passwords, or personal identification numbers (PINs), to unknown callers or through insecure channels.

Be Suspicious: Be very wary of any unsolicited calls that are threatening immediate action or demanding sensitive information. Obviously, confirm the same through official channels before taking any action.

Not Be Isolated: It is very important not to be isolated from family and friends. The modus operandi of fraudsters is normally to instruct the victim to maintain complete silence about the issue in front of family and friends. One should always inform friends and family members about any suspected fraud calls to get support and suggestions.

Report Suspicious Activity: If you think that you have fallen victim to or have come across any kind of scam, then you should report it immediately to the local law enforcement agencies and consumer protection authorities. Timely action may prevent further damage from taking place and help to protect others.

You must make a report to 1930 helpline number to report such incident.

Digital arrest scams work by targeting people’s fear and vulnerability, making their lives miserable. Sharing such information will keep you and those around you safe from these cyber fraudsters. Abide by the sense of precaution, be more alert, ever mindful of your intuition, and always ensure your safety above all in your online interactions.

Stay safe and informed against digital fraud.

Rinki Sharma