New Delhi-During an episode of his radio program Mann Ki Baat on Sunday (October 27), Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew attention to “digital arrests”, warning people against the scam. “Beware of digital arrest frauds. There is no system like digital arrest under the law. No government agency will ever contact you via phone or video call for such an investigation,” he said.
How exactly do such scams work? Given that investigative authorities are not empowered to make arrests via phone or video calls, how have scammers been able to dupe people in recent years? We explain.
What are digital arrest scams?
A digital arrest scam involves scammers pretending to be government officials. They approach potential victims through phone or video calls through WhatsApp, Skype or other channels. Often, the victim is accused of being part of an illegal activity, such as the movement of drugs or a suspicious package.
Through a combination of sets and costumes depicting police stations and official badges, scammers convincingly make their fake identities seem real. They use pressure tactics, intimidation and fake documents to put the victims under so-called digital arrests, demanding that they do not end the call or attempt to even leave their homes.
Scammers lie on victims’ ignorance of the law and create a stressful situation for them, bombarding them with information and making them feel vulnerable. The PM also said in his address, “The fraudsters impersonate police, CBI, narcotics and at times RBI officials. Using such various labels, they converse as fake officers with a lot of confidence”.
It is not only vulnerable groups who may fall prey to such scams. Vast sums have been stolen from wealthy individuals, as well. Earlier this month, it was reported that scammers duped the textile industry doyen S P Oswal into transferring Rs 7 crore to their bank accounts.Oswal, chairman-cum-managing director of Vardhman Group, the largest textile manufacturing group in the country, said he was also taken into “digital custody” by the fraudsters who posed as CBI sleuths. Oswal told The Indian Express that they kept him under “digital surveillance for two days via Skype” as a “suspect in a money-laundering case”.
They held a fake Supreme Court hearing on Skype, where one person impersonated Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, faked hearing a matter and thereafter passed an order.Several signs can reveal whether potential scammers are on the other line of a call. First, they usually discourage sorting out legal issues at a real police station. Second, such calls are of long duration, which is unlikely to happen in a real case. Officials also do not reach out on calls to deal with such matters, as the PM said. Scammers may also ask for Aadhar or PAN details.
PM Modi also said in his address, “Follow these 3 steps to stay safe: stop, think, take action. First, stay calm and do not panic. Record or take a screen recording if possible. Second, remember that no government agency will threaten you online. Third, take action by dialling 1930 to connect with the national cyber helpline and also inform police about such a crime.”
What has govt done to counter digital arrest scams?
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), is a dedicated wing under the cyber and information security division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, mandated to tackle burgeoning cybercrime cases. In its analysis of trends seen from January to April 2024, the I4C found that Indians lost Rs 120.30 crore because of this type of scam.
It has blocked more than 1,000 Skype IDs linked to such activities, after collaborating with Microsoft. Awareness campaigns have also been launched. PM Modi also asked schools and colleges to help spread more information about the issue.
In May, the government set up an inter-ministerial committee of various law enforcement and intelligence agencies to tackle the recent “spurt” in transnational organised cyber crimes against Indians from various Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia.