An Elderly Resident Swindled in a Modern-Day "Digital Arrest" Scam
Elderly Resident in Mohali Fooled out of 1 Crore INR through "Digital Arrest" Swindle
In another terrifying instance of digital fraud targeting the elderly, a 70-year-old woman from Phase 6, Mohali, lost a staggering ₹1.03 crore after falling for a scam involving a phony "digital arrest."
posing as authorities like police, cybercrime officials, or CBI agents, these scammers expertly exploited the victim with bogus accusations of serious crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking, or identity theft tied to her bank account or Aadhaar card. These miscreants claimed she faced an immediate arrest warrant, causing her immense fear.
Under the pretext of her continued "digital arrest," the woman was required to stay put, maintain constant video call contact, and refrain from engaging with others. This isolation aimed to heighten the pressure on her, eventually leading her to comply with the requests to transfer money to various bank accounts. Over the span of three nerve-wracking days, she unwittingly relinquished ₹1.03 crore.
Desperate and afraid, the lady continued to converse with the scammers during the entire ordeal. Fortunately, after the calls ended, she realized the gravity of the situation and immediately reported it to the cyber cell.
The authorities swiftly registered a case under Sections 308(2), 318(4), 127(7), 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act at the Cyber Crime police station. Investigations are currently underway, seeking to trace the bank accounts utilized for the money transfers and the origins of the incorrect calls.
As a precaution, the police have urged everyone to be vigilant and refrain from making transfers based on intimidating phone calls or unverified legal declarations.
DSP Rupinder Kaur Sohi advises, "Stay alert and never trust such deceitful tactics. If anyone threatens you with a 'digital arrest,' consider it a hoax, as there is no such lawful concept in the Indian legal system. In any such situations, promptly contact your local police station and file a report."
Insights
What is a Digital Arrest?
A "digital arrest" fraud is a type of social engineering scam where unscrupulous perpetrators pose as law enforcement or government officials and contact victims through phone calls, WhatsApp, SMS, or email. These scammers intimidate their victims with false accusations of serious crimes, such as money laundering, drug trafficking, or identity theft tied to their accounts or Aadhaar card. They create a sense of urgency and panic, and victims are then instructed to make various payments or disclose sensitive information, convinced they must avoid "digital arrest."
Prevalence in India
Digital arrest scams have become increasingly prevalent in India and target a broad spectrum of victims, from working professionals to senior citizens. These scams piggyback on the increasing digitization of personal identification, financial transactions, and official verification processes, making it relatively easier for scammers to impersonate authorities. Recent improvements in AI-generated deepfake technology further heighten the credibility of these scams, thereby eroding public trust in digital and official platforms.
- In India, the prevalence of digital arrest scams is concerning, with the most recent victim being a 70-year-old woman from Mohali who lost ₹1.03 crore.
- These scams involve scammers posing as government officials or law enforcement agents, exploiting victims with bogus accusations of crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking, or identity theft.
- To prevent such scams, the police advise the public to be vigilant, never make transfers based on intimidating phone calls, and report any suspicious activity to the local police station immediately.
- DSP Rupinder Kaur Sohi adds that "digital arrest" intimidation tactics should be considered hoaxes, as there is no such lawful concept in the Indian legal system.
