Hyderabad Police Warn Citizens About Digital Arrest Fraud Scheme

Hyderabad, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : Authorities in Hyderabad are raising awareness about a fraudulent scheme known as “digital arrest” after a 72-year-old woman was swindled out of ₹22 lakh. The victim received a video call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer, who accused her of being linked to a parcel filled with illegal drugs and suggested that her bank account was involved in money laundering.

The caller presented a fake arrest warrant and threatened to detain her. Under duress, the woman was coerced into transferring money to various accounts as a supposed bail payment. Ultimately, she suffered a financial loss totaling ₹22 lakh.

In light of this incident and others, the Hyderabad police have issued a warning to the public to remain vigilant against cybercriminals. M. Srinivasulu, the Additional Police Commissioner for Crime and SIT, stated that the Cyber Crime Police Station has been conducting awareness programs in coordination with local police stations to educate citizens about these scams. These efforts have reportedly led to a decrease in reported cases of digital arrests, though some incidents continue to occur.

The digital arrest scam operates by instilling fear and using deception to extort money from victims. Cybercriminals impersonate police officers, CBI agents, or other government officials, threatening innocent citizens with arrest or legal action unless they pay a “fine” or “security deposit” to avoid consequences.

According to police officials, scammers often reach out to victims via phone calls, WhatsApp, SMS, or video calls. They may claim that the victim’s mobile number, bank account, or identification documents are linked to criminal activities. The impersonators can create fake identification, counterfeit notices, and official-looking documents to lend credibility to their claims, even fabricating a police station background for video calls.

Victims are falsely accused of involvement in drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illegal transactions. In some cases, scammers assert that a parcel containing illegal substances has been seized in the victim’s name.

The police continue to advise the public to be cautious and to report any suspicious calls or messages to avoid falling prey to these scams.