Jaipur, October 28 (Daily Kiran)। The Cyber Crime Branch of Rajasthan Police has issued an advisory warning citizens against a new form of cyber fraud known as ‘Digital Arrest’. Police clarified that no law enforcement or government agency ever arrests anyone over a video call or digital medium, urging people to remain highly vigilant against such scams.
How Cyber Criminals Trap Victims
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Cyber Crime) Vikas Sharma explained that cyber fraudsters impersonate officials from the CBI, Police, Customs, ED, Income Tax Department, or Judiciary and make phone calls to unsuspecting people. These criminals create fear by making false claims and threats, such as:
★ Your family member or child has committed a crime and will be arrested.
★ Money linked to anti-national activities or money laundering has been found in your bank account.
★ Verification of all your accounts, FDs, or investments is required.
★ A SIM card issued under your Aadhaar number is being used in a crime.
Under the pretext of investigation, they keep victims engaged on video calls, pretending to “digitally arrest” them.
Final Stage of the Fraud: Forced Money Transfer
DIG Sharma further stated that after instilling fear, victims receive a video call from a fake senior officer, who claims that the large amount in their account requires immediate tax verification. The victim is then ordered to transfer the money to a so-called “government account”, which in reality belongs to the fraudsters. The criminals keep the victim on video call throughout and strictly instruct them not to inform anyone or the police until the process is “complete.”
How to Protect Yourself from ‘Digital Arrest’ Scams
The Rajasthan Police advised citizens to follow these precautions to stay safe from such cyber frauds:
● Police or government officials never make arrests via video calls.
● Do not transfer money to anyone demanding it over a call or video chat — no government agency asks for money this way.
◆ Always verify the caller’s number — genuine Indian numbers start with +91.
● Report any suspicious or threatening calls immediately to the nearest police station or cyber police station.
● Victims can also file complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call the Cyber Helpline 1930.
● For further assistance, citizens may contact the Police Headquarters Helpdesk at 925600-1930 or 92575-10100.