Most of the victims are senior citizens, says police  

1. Protect yourself from cyber fraud
2. Beware of impersonators and fake legal threat scams
3. No government agency will conduct investigation or arrest a criminal via a video call
4. Never share OTPs, Aadhaar and bank account details
5. Do not transfer any money under threat or promise of clearing your name from cases
6. No Law Enforcement Agency or Government Agency demand money transfer for clearing any individual of the criminal charges
7. Verify official claims independently - Contact your bank or local police station directly

Digital arrest scams, a growing cybercrime tactic, have primarily targeted senior citizens especially retired professionals aged 60 to 80, often with children living abroad.

In these scams, fraudsters pose as officials from agencies like CBI, Customs, ED, or DRI. They use fake arrest warrants, court orders, and official-looking letters to falsely accuse victims of crimes such as money laundering or drug trafficking. Victims are told their Aadhaar and mobile numbers are linked to illegal activities, and are threatened with arrest, job loss, and imprisonment.

The scammers typically coerce victims over 2–3 hour video calls, demanding complete secrecy. Under pressure, victims are forced to liquidate savings, prematurely withdraw fixed deposits, take loans against gold, or transfer personal loans often within 24 hours.

However, there’s good news. Thanks to continuous awareness campaigns, there has been a 75% drop in reported cases. In the first half of 2025, only 34 digital arrest scams were reported down from 140 during the same period in 2024. The second half of 2024 alone saw 214 cases.

Two recent cases indicate the depth of the digital arrest scam. On April 5, an 84-year-old man from Secunderabad was conned out of Rs 44 lakh after being falsely told his number was linked to money laundering. Three men, identified as Tauqeeb Raza, Rahil Imam and Ali Asad, all from Jharkhand, were arrested, and police recovered mobile phones, cheque books, fake company stamps, SIM cards, and swiping machines.

In a second case reported on March 29, a 69-year-old woman from Hyderabad lost Rs 38.7 lakh after impersonators claiming to be TRAI officials and Mumbai police officers accused her of being involved in money laundering and human trafficking. Arbaz Pasha from Bengaluru was arrested on July 9 and a mobile phone was seized from him.

The significant decline highlights the impact of awareness efforts and increased vigilance. Authorities urge the public, especially senior citizens, to remain cautious and verify any such calls with official channels before taking action.