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“There is no such thing as digital arrest in our laws,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the latest episode of Mann Ki Baat. . Prime Minister Modi spoke on Sunday about digital arrests as the scourge runs rampant in India, robbing people of their entire savings. But a split-second decision can protect Indians from fraud. In digital arrest scams, fraudsters impersonate government officials, particularly law enforcement officers. They contact the victims by phone and then follow up via video via WhatsApp or Skype. Many callers pretend to be police or customs officials. After the scammer creates the video, the victim is typically shown a police station-like structure to trick them into believing the call is from the police. The targets were accused of illegal activities, which the fraudsters say led to their arrest. Scammers also display fake documents proving digital arrests.
Thousands of people have fallen victim to such scams, even though there is no legal digital arrest. The prevalence of this scam was revealed by data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). According to a report by Indian Express citing NCRP data, Indians have lost up to Rs 120 million due to digital arrest cases in the first quarter of 2024 alone. In a world where information is power, knowing how scammers try to hijack your brain and the split-second decisions they make can save you from losing your savings. In his Man Ki Baat speech on October 27, Prime Minister Modi warned Indians about rampant fraud.
“Beware of digital arrest scams. No investigative agency will contact you through phone or video call for such investigation,” he said. The Prime Minister explained that digital arrest scams are carried out in three steps: collecting personal information, intimidating people and putting extreme pressure on them. Thousands of digital arrests uncovered in 2024. An elderly man from Ahmedabad also fell victim to a digital arrest scam in which he was forced to transfer Rs 1.26 billion by impersonating senior officials, including the Chief Justice of India. However, there are ways to protect yourself from digital capture.
A SPLIT-SECOND DECISION CAN SAVE YOU FROM DIGITAL ARREST SCAM:
A split second decision can save you. Mantra: Don't panic.
“Stop, think and act,” Modi said.
“As soon as they call you, stop... - don't panic, stay calm, don't take hasty actions, don't share your personal information with anyone; If possible, take a screenshot and record it. "Of course," he said.
“No government agency will threaten you over the phone, interrogate you via video link, or demand money. When you're scared, you know something's wrong,” he added.
"Call National Cyber Helpline 1930, report at cybercrime.gov.in, inform family and police and preserve evidence." Select “Stop”, then “Think”, then “Action”. "With these three steps, you become the custodian of digital security," he added.
Being aware of digital arrests and paying attention to such calls can help people. When they call, they say they are from CBI, CIT, ED (Enforcement Directorate) and they want to arrest you for a crime. And the next step is to ask for money. This is a scam, put it down. It also helps to take a step back.
Hear what the scammer is really saying. Don't react too quickly. The more time you spend thinking, the less likely you are to be deceived. Take a breath and think. If you can, tell someone you trust and get help. Remember, there's no such thing as a "digital arrest," so you can't be arrested over the phone or video. So don't panic and follow the call instructions. By staying calm, compliant, and informed, you can protect yourself from cybercriminals who are finding new ways to scam people.
