Digital arrest

Digital arrest is a scam where fake officers say you are held on a video call and must pay. No such arrest exists in law or practice.

Digital arrest: Digital arrest is a fraud in which callers pose as police, customs, CBI or court officials and claim you are under arrest on a video call. They order you to stay on camera and transfer money to a "safe account". No real authority does this.

It starts with a call or message about a parcel containing drugs, a SIM used in a crime or a money laundering case. The call is passed to a person in a uniform on video, with an office background. You are told not to tell anyone, not to leave the camera and to follow orders. Sometimes the "case documents" carry official-looking seals.

Police and courts do not arrest people over video calls, do not ask for money to settle a case and do not keep you "under digital arrest". Hang up, tell a family member and call 112 or visit a police station if you feel threatened. If you paid, call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in at once. Scammers rely on fear and secrecy, so talking to family early breaks the spell.

Tips

• End the call and tell someone at home the same minute.
• Remember that no police or court demands money over video call.
• If you already paid, call 1930 and file a report immediately.

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