In India, we hear of some or the other kind of scam every week. And for the last few months, the ‘Digital Arrest Scam’ has been constantly in the news. From a student in Mumbai who was duped of ₹7.29 lakh to a senior citizen in Hyderabad who almost got scammed by a similar trick before a SBI official saved him — the list goes on!
So, what exactly is the Digital Arrest Scam? And how can a scammer ‘arrest’ an innocent civilian? Let’s find out.
“You’re under arrest”…for what?
The rise in digital arrest scams in India is such that even the Prime Minister has warned the citizens about it in his monthly radio programme. Now, the nature of most of these scams is somewhat similar in essence. Here’s how it goes:
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A fraudster calls the victim, claiming to be from enforcement agencies like RBI, CBI, TRAI, or the Income Tax Department.
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The fraudster then demands the victim to stay in constant video surveillance via platforms like Skype. The victim is then told that their contact number of an ID proof has been used in conducting illegal operations like drug trafficking.
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Then the victim is asked by the fraudsters to pay a significant sum of money to ensure that no action is taken against them for the ‘alleged’ crime.
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These fraudsters go to the extent of wearing police-like uniforms and creating a proper set that makes the place look like an enforcement agency’s office. Hence, the victims pay up out of fear of being persecuted.
Here’s how you can protect yourself from these scams
To avoid becoming the victim of a digital arrest scam, here are the quick and simple steps that you need to follow:
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Stop communication with the fraudster and disconnect your internet.
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Call the 24×7 helpline number ‘1930’ and report the incident to the authorities right away.
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Get in touch with your bank, freeze your accounts and change passwords as early as possible.
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Remember to keep vital evidence with you, such as screenshots, call recordings, text messages and so on.
