Beware of Arrest Call Scams: Protect Yourself

With the onset of digital India and every citizen being equipped with their own smart devices, the cybercrime wave is already at its peak. India has witnessed a surge in fraudulent phone calls, most often manipulating the receiver to do things posed by other people.

A new kind of scam call, where scammers call an individual posing as law enforcement officers or representatives from government agencies, is surfacing. These types of calls are often referred to as “live scam calls” or “digital arrest calls.”.

What Is A Digital Arrest Call Scam?

A digital arrest spam or Scam refers to a new age fraud where an individual or a group of individuals will pretend to be from the police with the chief aim of frightening the victim. They also claim that the victims committed crimes then extort money from their target for their crimes, alleging that the victims want to ‘make it right.’

How Does A Digital Call Arrest Scam Works ?

Scammers pose as officials on calls or video platforms, claiming victims are involved in crimes and must pay to “clear their names.” They use fake setups to appear credible and pressure victims into transferring money.

Working of a Digital Arrest Scam takes place as follows:

• Impersonation: Often the fraudsters pretend to be officials of some service, CBI officer or income tax executor and phone the victim.

• Video Call Pressure: After that, victims are given instructions to change to video calls in applications such as WhatsApp or Skype where the scammers state that there is a digital arrest warrant for offences such as tax fraud or embezzlement.

• Fake Setup: Thus, to make it look like a genuine call, fake caller may establish a background akin to a police station.

• Money Transfer: Because of the threats, the victims are told to send the money to a bank account or a given UPI ID in the disguise of a security deposit or collaborating with the investigation.

• Disappearance: Once the money is passed through to the fraudsters, they disappear, and the victims are left with the losses, and sometimes even identity theft.

What Has Recent Case Studies And Statistics To Show About This Digital Arrest Scam?

An increase in the current kind of digital arrest scams also show there is a need to create awareness. Here are recent cases that underscore the tactics used by scammers and the growing risks:

1. New Delhi Case:

• A gang in New Delhi, originating from West Bengal, used fake policeman bad characters to approach their victims accusing them of crime such as peddling bhang and afterwards demands for a share from the bhang selling business.
• The Delhi police registered 113 complaints about this group and detained three people.
• The authorities state that the biggest giveaway when it comes to these scams is that real arrest warrants or immediate threats made over the phone are not applicable under Indian law.

2. Gujarat Incident (Vijay’s Case):

• A 32-yr old man, Vijay from Gujarat shared with a caller he believed was from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that his phone was linked to criminal operations.
• Vijay was asked to confirm his identity via a video call where the scammer disguised as a police officer asked Aadhaar details and then asked for his bank details saying he would help him.
• Vijay observed inaccuracy and therefore declined to provide his account numbers and conduct a financial loss. This though shows that scam artists construct fabricated situations and force the targets into submission.

3. Large-Scale Cross-Border Scam Network in Cambodia and Myanmar:

• One of the networks is Cambodia Myanmar based and they have been targeting Indian citizens, even threatening that they are the Indian police and demand money.
• People have shared pictures of the scammers, who arrive dressed in police outfits but are actually wearing casual clothing beneath the uniform.
• Investigative points uncovered that these scams were operated from the earlier casinos turned call centres in Cambodia as well as Myanmar, which exhibits the prospect of these scams on a worldwide level.
• GPS data helped officers reach several call-centre locations in these areas which revealed an extensive network of fraudsters.

4. Financial Loss in 2024:

• India’s online population was conned out of ₹120 crore in digital arrest scams during the first four months of 2024 alone.
• The situation is so grave that our Prime Minister Mr. Modi also coined this topic in his radio show Mann Ki Baat asking the citizens to beware of it.

What To Know About Arrest Calls Scam?

Arrest call scams involve fraudsters impersonating law enforcement to scare victims into paying money. Legitimate agencies do not demand immediate payments over the phone.

This is what one should know about the digital arrest call scam:

• No Legitimate Payment Requests: All genuine law enforcement will not demand cash payments instantly via the phone.

• Avoid Giving Personal Information: The report should not provide information such as fiscal or personal data to strangers over the phone.

• Request Agency Confirmation: If unclear, he or she should ask the caller to confirm the agencies that they are calling from.

• End Suspicious Calls Immediately: The mildest possible reaction is completely avoiding a reply and to simply terminate the connection.

• Verify with Authorities: Go directly to the agency in question, or the local police and inquire if there is indeed any real problem.

• Spread Awareness: Pass on the word to everyone, to be wary of such scams.

How To Protect Yourself?

Stay vigilant, avoid sharing personal information over calls, and never click on suspicious links. Verify any strange or unknown requests by contacting organisations directly through official channels. Best way to avoid getting ensnared in a digital arrest scam is as follows:

• Stay Sceptical: Always bear in mind that genuine call is not that of law enforcement will ever request money from you or your bank details immediately.

• Avoid Pressure Tactics: Genuine offers do not need pressure, and that is why scammers do everything possible to make you act fast. Spend some time to evaluate the moment.

• Verify Their Identity: You should contact the official agency to determine if the call is genuine or not when you are in doubt.

• Don’t Share Personal Information: Do not disclose any personal or any card related details on the telephone or video calls.

• Know Official Communication Channels: Official communicational houses do not employ use of what app or skype in their business.

• Report Suspicious Calls: If you know or have a feeling that any online deal offered is a fake, you should immediately contact the local police or cybercrime office.

What To Do If You Are A Victim Of A Scam?

Report the scam to your bank and freeze your account immediately. File a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and keep all evidence like call details, messages, and transactions.

Below is the detail to the things one should do, if he/she is a victim of a Digital Arrest Scam:

Contact Your Bank Immediately:

• Inform your bank about the fraud so that you block your account in order to avoid further loss.

Report the Scam:

• To register a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal please visit cybercrime.gov.in.

Keep All Evidence:

• Preserve voice logs, receipts, mails, or any material which can support the case.

How Do You Recognise A Potential Scam?

Recognize scams by looking out for unexpected requests for personal information, suspicious links, too-good-to-be-true offers, and communication errors. Fake profiles and intimidating tones are also red flags. Such as:

1. Strange Request Asking For Bank Details
In case you get a call informing you falsely that you are from a financial institution or a government agency asking for personal details be wary. No genuine organisation writes to their members, clients or anyone else, for that matter, to discuss private and sensitive issues like this.

2. Spam Links: Received Through Email Or SMS
Do not trust messages that tell you to click on a link to confirm information. By following the links, the given page can fill your machine with viruses that are used by hackers to syphon off your data.

3. Deals That Seem Hard To Believe
Criminals tend to recover money by guaranteeing huge earnings for small sums, lucky numbers, or family bequests. If you receive an offer that is too good to be true, then it’s probably a fake one. Never engage in these talks to reduce the risk of danger.

4. Communication Errors Or Grammar Mistakes
Be sure to check messages for possible misspellings, incorrect grammar used, or strange punctuation. There are always mistakes made in communications, however, legitimate organisations are usually cautious, and mistakes must be looked at as potential scams.

5. Fake/Incomplete Profiles With Authoritative Tones
Some fraudsters may call the victims via Whatsapp with pictures of police or anything to do with the government. They tend to speak roughly to generate fear, and provide fake evidence of criminal conduct of a loved one.

6. Using Threats To Influence Victims To Disclose Stakes Information
In every case promising to help the victim avoid trouble, the scammers twist the conversation to extract personal details or cash. This information can later on be used for instance to perpetrate identity theft or any other unauthorised access to a bank account.

Conclusion

In conclusion, digital scams are now in circulation and it is always wise to keep abreast of them. The arrest call scam is just one example of how the criminals are using technology and people’s fear. It is advisable that anyone who receives such a call should proceed to endeavour to verify it directly with the authority that the call was purportedly from and it’s also advisable that no one should give out any sensitive information on the phone, or encourage others to do so. When it comes to an environment filled with new types of fraud, awareness is the best apparel one can wear. Report the scams, avoid the tricks, and protect your information from these scams.

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