Nagpur: The Cyber Cell of Nagpur Police has issued a warning to citizens regarding a rising trend of cyber frauds involving a new tactic known as ‘digital arrest.’ In this scheme, cyber criminals impersonate law enforcement officials and target unsuspecting individuals, leveraging fear and intimidation to extort money.
According to Cyber Police, these criminals typically pose as police officers or officials from enforcement agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Economic Offenders Wing (EOW), or even local police departments. They call citizens claiming that their Aadhaar card, PAN card, or mobile number has been linked to serious criminal activities such as financial fraud or drug trafficking.
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Avoid disclosing sensitive information like Aadhaar numbers, PAN details, bank account numbers, or OTPs over the phone. Legitimate officials will never ask for such details on a phone call.
The criminals pose as officials and use intimidating language to convince the victim that they are involved in a major legal case. They claim that the victim’s personal identification– whether Aadhaar, PAN, or mobile number– has been misused in criminal activities like money laundering, illegal transactions, or drug-related offenses.
The fraudsters tell the victim that they are under investigation for serious offenses, including financial fraud or involvement in drug-related activities, often citing specific laws or legal acts to make the threat seem credible.
Once the victim is sufficiently alarmed, the cyber crooks escalate the situation by threatening immediate arrest, asset freezes, or legal actions unless they comply with certain demands. Victims are told that an arrest warrant is being prepared, creating a sense of urgency and panic.
In exchange for avoiding arrest or legal complications, the scammers demand hefty sums of money as a “settlement” or “penalty.” Victims are often asked to transfer the money through online transactions or digital wallets to avoid their alleged arrest or to “clear their name” from the investigation.
In recent months, the Cyber Cell has come across several complaints where citizens received threatening calls, prompting panic and leading them to pay large sums of money. Some victims have reported losing lakhs of rupees in a bid to “settle” the matter and avoid the perceived threat of being arrested or having their assets frozen. In most cases, the criminals have used sophisticated scripts to manipulate and convince victims that the calls were legitimate.
The Cyber Cell has urged citizens to be cautious of such calls and provided the following guidelines to prevent falling prey to these scams:
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a law enforcement or government agency, do not immediately comply with their demands. Ask for official identification, and verify their credentials through authentic sources, such as the police helpline or visiting the concerned department’s official website.
Scammers often rely on creating fear and panic to manipulate victims. If you are accused of a crime over the phone, do not take immediate action or transfer money out of fear. Instead, calmly investigate the situation.
If you suspect that the call is fraudulent, immediately report it to the Cyber Cell or local police. Recording the conversation and noting the phone number could assist in tracking down the fraudsters.
The Nagpur Cyber Police are actively investigating the cases brought to their attention and have launched efforts to trace the origins of these fraudulent calls. In some cases, it has been found that the calls are made from outside the city, and the money extorted is transferred through complex networks to evade detection.
As technology advances, cybercriminals are finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities, and the ‘digital arrest’ scam is a prime example of such evolving tactics. The Nagpur Cyber Cell’s timely warning serves as a reminder to all citizens to stay alert, informed, and cautious in the digital world, especially when dealing with unsolicited phone calls that threaten legal action.
