In 2024, India faced significant losses from ‘Digital Arrest’ scams, with Rs 1,777 crore lost in the first four months itself. The situation is no different in 2025.
So, what is ‘Digital Arrest’? The term refers to the state of being restricted, suppressed, or incapacitated within the digital realm. It is a new type of cybercrime. In today’s digital world, scammers and criminals are finding new ways to trick people.
In a Digital Arrest, someone pretends to be a police or some other government official, often on a video call, to intimidate and control you. They might claim you’ve done something illegal like smuggling drugs through a courier and demand money, personal information, or other actions to “fix the problem.”
Scammers have been known to set up a fake police station background and wear police uniform to fool people. They contact victims on a video call and falsely accuse them of serious crimes like drug trafficking, money laundering, etc. They threaten the person with two options: either surrender and be placed under digital arrest immediately or face serious legal complications and charges.
In most cases, victims of these scams, out of fear, agree to be placed under digital arrest. Scammers use fear and intimidation to ensnare people, creating a sense of panic and urgency, making victims believe they have very little time to protect themselves.
These scammers are really smart. First, they isolate the victim by prohibiting them from calling or speaking to anyone, warning that doing so could result in severe legal consequences. Then these scammers use their superb manipulation skills to make the victim their puppet.
They demand people to make huge transactions or ask for their bank details. This can be a very frightening experience especially when the scammer already knows some of your personal information and uses fake uniforms, backgrounds and official looking documents.
How can you protect yourself against Digital Arrest? The answer is, first and foremost, to be aware and vigilant at all times especially when a scammer contacts you. The first and most important thing is that you should never pick up a call that is displayed as scam/fraud on Truecaller or from an international number.
If you land yourself in one such situation, you should stay calm and think. Scammers rely on fear to make you act without thinking. Alert the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 so that your bank account can be frozen before the criminals withdraw money from it.
Take a moment to breathe and assess the situation. Real police officers or government officials will never threaten you over a video call or ask for money to avoid arrest.
Next, verify their claims and ask them questions regarding their identity/authority. You should never share your personal information or make any payments. If you are in this situation and they are pressurizing you, you should cut the call and go and report it to your nearest police station.
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Remaining calm and showing a bit of courage in such situations is very essential. By staying vigilant and cautious, you can reduce your chances of falling victim to these digital arrest scams.
