harrycane287
Newbie
Digital arrest" is not a real legal process. It is a sophisticated psychological scam designed to exploit fear and panic. Law enforcement agencies—whether the CBI, ED, or local police—will never monitor you via a video call or demand money to "clear" your name.
Here is how the scam typically unfolds and how you can spot it.
Phase 1: The Hook
The scam usually begins with a phone call (often via WhatsApp or an unknown number). The caller typically poses as:
Courier Officials: Claiming a package in your name containing illegal items (drugs, fake passports, or MDMA) has been seized.
Law Enforcement: Claiming your Aadhaar card or phone number was used in a high-profile money laundering case.
Phase 2: The "Digital Arrest"
Once they have you on the line, the pressure intensifies:
Video Call Transition: They insist you move to a video call (Skype or WhatsApp). The scammers often wear fake uniforms and sit in rooms designed to look like a police station or a government office.
Isolating the Victim: They tell you that you are under "digital arrest." You are ordered to keep your camera on at all times and are forbidden from talking to family members, lawyers, or friends, claiming it's a "matter of national security."
Legal Jargon: They use real-sounding terms like "Section 144" or "Supreme Court warrants" to overwhelm you.
Phase 3: The Extortion
The goal is always money. They will offer a "way out":
Verification Deposit: They ask you to transfer a large sum of money to a "government account" for "verification purposes," promising it will be refunded once your innocence is proven.
Urgency: They create a sense of extreme urgency, threatening immediate physical arrest and public shaming if you don't pay.
What to do if you are targeted
Hang up immediately. Do not engage in the "investigation."
Verify independently. If they claim to be from a specific police station, find that station's official number online and call them yourself.
Report it. Use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (in India, that’s 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in).
Do not transfer money. No government agency will ever ask for a "security deposit" over a video call.
Here is how the scam typically unfolds and how you can spot it.
Phase 1: The Hook
The scam usually begins with a phone call (often via WhatsApp or an unknown number). The caller typically poses as:
Courier Officials: Claiming a package in your name containing illegal items (drugs, fake passports, or MDMA) has been seized.
Law Enforcement: Claiming your Aadhaar card or phone number was used in a high-profile money laundering case.
Phase 2: The "Digital Arrest"
Once they have you on the line, the pressure intensifies:
Video Call Transition: They insist you move to a video call (Skype or WhatsApp). The scammers often wear fake uniforms and sit in rooms designed to look like a police station or a government office.
Isolating the Victim: They tell you that you are under "digital arrest." You are ordered to keep your camera on at all times and are forbidden from talking to family members, lawyers, or friends, claiming it's a "matter of national security."
Legal Jargon: They use real-sounding terms like "Section 144" or "Supreme Court warrants" to overwhelm you.
Phase 3: The Extortion
The goal is always money. They will offer a "way out":
Verification Deposit: They ask you to transfer a large sum of money to a "government account" for "verification purposes," promising it will be refunded once your innocence is proven.
Urgency: They create a sense of extreme urgency, threatening immediate physical arrest and public shaming if you don't pay.
What to do if you are targeted
Hang up immediately. Do not engage in the "investigation."
Verify independently. If they claim to be from a specific police station, find that station's official number online and call them yourself.
Report it. Use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (in India, that’s 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in).
Do not transfer money. No government agency will ever ask for a "security deposit" over a video call.
