Mumbai senior citizen put under ‘digital arrest’, duped of Rs 3.8 crore: How to protect yourself from such scams

‘You are under digital arrest.’

The phone rings.

The caller informs the recipient that a parcel she sent to Taiwan has been stopped. Inside the parcel, authorities found five passports, a bank card, 4 kg of clothing, and MDMA drugs.

The 77-year-old woman insists she has never sent any parcel to anyone. However, the caller claims her Aadhaar card details were used in the offence and advises her to speak to a Mumbai police officer.

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At this point, what is the woman meant to do?

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In such a situation, stress is unavoidable. Your heart pounds, panic takes over, and you are left completely unsure of your next step.

This is 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 fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers, a 77-year-old woman from South Mumbai was kept under “digital custody” for over a month.

The scammers threatened her with arrest and duped her of Rs 3.8 crore, according to the police, The Times of India reported. The victim, a homemaker, lives with her retired husband (75) while their two children reside abroad.

As per the report, her call was transferred to a person pretending to be a police officer, who accused her of being implicated in a money laundering case through her Aadhaar card.

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A police officer told TOI, “The complainant was then asked to download the Skype app and told that the police officers would talk to her through it. She was ordered not to disconnect and not to tell anyone about the case. A man posing as Anand Rana, IPS officer, sought details of her bank accounts. Later, another man claiming to be George Mathew, IPS, from the finance department, came on the call and asked her to transfer money into bank accounts given by them so that they could probe it. They told her the money would be returned to her if found to be ‘clear’.”

The fraudsters asked her to visit the bank and transfer money. After she made the transfer, they returned Rs 15 lakh to her account, claiming it was ‘clear’, which made them earn her trust.

Eventually, they persuaded her to transfer all the funds from her and her husband’s joint accounts. Over time, she transferred Rs 3.8 crore into six different accounts, the media outlet reported.

Notably, this is not just one incident. Cases of ‘digital arrest’ have seen an alarming rise recently. It is important to understand what this scam means and how to protect yourself from such fraudulent calls.

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What is digital arrest?

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

These criminals typically impersonate law enforcement officials or government agencies like 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 appear more credible, New Indian Express said in a report.

The fraudsters contact their targets through audio or video calls, intimidating them to comply with their demands. They often extort money from victims while effectively keeping them confined at home under the false pretext of an ‘arrest’, Deccan Herald reported.

In such cases, victims are often placed under constant visual surveillance via platforms like Skype or other video conferencing tools. This ensures the scammers maintain control until their demands are fulfilled.

Notably, the scam frequently involves accusations that the victim has either sent or received a parcel containing illegal or contraband goods - such as drugs or fake IDs - or that their phone has been used for unlawful activities. These false charges create panic, making it easier for fraudsters to exploit their victims.

How common are these ‘digital arrest’ scams?

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, a sharp rise in cybercrime cases has been reported over the years: 3,466 cases in 2017, 3,353 in 2018, 6,229 in 2019, 10,395 in 2020, 14,007 in 2021, and 17,470 in 2022, Deccan Herald 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 arrest. The notice stated that cybercriminals often impersonate officials from law enforcement or government agencies such as the Police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also addressed the issue, warning people against falling victim to these frauds.

“Beware of digital arrest frauds. There is no system like digital arrest under 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 helpline.

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How to prevent yourself from such scams?

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

• Genuine legal notices related to illegal activities are never sent via informal channels like WhatsApp, Telegram, or similar apps. No legitimate regulatory official will ever demand money online to resolve a case or investigation.

• If you receive a suspicious call or message, directly contact the organisation or agency through verified contact details to confirm the authenticity of the claim.

• If you know you are not involved in any illegal activity, stay calm even if threatened with arrest. Scammers often succeed because victims panic, despite having no reason to fear.

• Immediately report any suspected scam to your local police or cybercrime authorities.

• Follow the advisory from CERT-In, which suggests staying “vigilant and informed” against emerging cyber threats.

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

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

India encounters a wide range of cybercrimes, including fake investment schemes and online dating scams. However, the “digital arrest” scam is particularly alarming due to its invasive nature. Carefully planned, it infiltrates every aspect of a victim’s life. According to a BBC report, scammers sometimes appear on video calls, while other times they remain anonymous, using only audio.

Deepak Kumar Singh, a senior police official, told BBC, “The scammers are educated men and women - fluent in English and various Indian languages - including engineering graduates, cyber security experts, and banking professionals. Most operate through Telegram channels.”

These fraudsters exploit people’s trust in authority and the growing reliance on digital platforms, making them especially hard to identify. However, awareness and a simple checklist - combined with staying calm - can go a long way in preventing such digital arrest scams.

With inputs from agencies