The rise of digital arrest as a cybercrime poses a serious challenges for law inforcements in India.There has been an increase in digital arrest scams in India. Scammers use technology to pretend to be government or law enforcement officials in order to coerce victims into complying by intimidating and psychologically manipulating them.In digital arrest, victim is being wrongly accused of a crime.
Since victims often lack enough knowledge to figure out the tactics used by fraudsters, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas, the rising incidence of these scams has sparked public awareness campaigns and calls for legislative reform.
To avoid alleged legal action, scammers often try to isolate the victim before using the threat of fictional consequences, such arrest or incarceration, to extort large quantities of money or give over personal information.
The victim is allegedly under ‘digital arrest’ by cybercriminals, who then make them comply with their instructions.After that, victims are instructed to transfer the money as a verification fee or refundable security deposit.
Using apps like WhatsApp, victims are often forced to switch to video calls in an attempt to make the conversation seem more authentic.
A 74-year-old retired central government official from Rajarhat, Kolkata, was recently digitally ‘arrested’ and held captive for almost three weeks in Kolkata by cybercriminals who tricked him out of ₹1.04 crore ($1,17,189.28) by pretending he was wanted in a human trafficking case.
He was called by the scammer, who claimed that he was wanted in connection with a human trafficking investigation. The Supreme Court gave him a fake court document that looked like an arrest warrant against him.
According to media reports,the victim was warned that unless he chose to participate in a ‘priority investigation,’ he would be detained in two hours. He agreed to cooperate with the scammers out of fear of being arrested.
He was told to present his identity documents to a “police team” at a five-star hotel in New Town the next day. However, no one showed up.But the victim got a video call from a man posing as a police officer who asked him questions and wanted ₹1.2 lakh ($ 1,352.04).
With the promise that the Reserve Bank of India will reimburse the money within three days, the scammers took ₹1.04 crore from the victim.
After realizing he had been tricked and not receiving his return, the victim went to the nearby police station to report the incident.
