Digital Arrest Video Call Scam on WhatsApp

How it looks on WhatsApp, the red flags and what to do.

WhatsApp is private and fast, which scammers like: a "wrong number" chat can turn into a task, an investment tip or a payment request within minutes. Digital Arrest Video Call Scam is one of the ways this shows up: Callers in uniform say you are under digital arrest on a video call and must send money to prove innocence. No agency does this. Here is how it works.

What digital arrest video call scam looks like on WhatsApp

• A friend or relative asking for urgent money from a new number or a hacked account.
• A group invite promising returns, jobs or prizes.
• A PDF, APK or image that must be opened to "see the details".

It usually begins with a recorded call or a message saying a parcel or SIM linked to your name was caught with something illegal. You are transferred to a second person who claims to be an officer. They move you to a video app and show a fake ID card and a backdrop that looks like a police station. They already know your name and sometimes your Aadhaar number, which makes it feel real.

Red flags to check on the WhatsApp message

• You are told you are under arrest on a video call.
• You are ordered not to tell family or disconnect.
• The caller wears a uniform in a home-like background.
• They ask you to move money to a safe or verification account.
• You are added to a group full of people praising profits.
• The sender moves you quickly to Telegram or to a second app.

What to do

1. Hang up. You are free to end any call at any time.
2. Tell a family member or a friend straight away.
3. Do not move money, break deposits or take loans for the caller.
4. Do not click links or open files. Do not send money or codes.
5. Open the chat, tap the contact name and choose Block and report.
6. If it was a "friend", call them on the number you already have and ask.

Inside WhatsApp use Block and report; for numbers that call or text you, the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) also takes complaints.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Call 1930 immediately and give every account and amount.
2. Tell your bank through the number on your card so it can try to hold the money.
3. File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with screenshots and call times.
4. Keep all chat records and do not delete anything; stay away from further calls.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Safeavio Sentinel's Money Shield checklist asks questions before you send money, such as who asked, why and whether you were told to keep it secret. It also lets a trusted family contact be added, and a family code word helps confirm that a real relative is calling. The scam check reads messages you paste and flags fake authority and urgency. It does not monitor calls or recover money.

Full guide: Digital Arrest Video Call Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: phone call, fake app.

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