Digital Arrest Scam: The arrests of eight individuals resulted from their scheme that tricked a senior citizen from Palghar in Maharashtra to give away ₹3.5 crore while under digital arrest pressures according to an official statement on Wednesday.
Digital Arrest Scammers in India
The extorted funds amounting to ₹22 lakh were discovered in various bank accounts so authorities froze this money according to news agency PTI. Digital arrest represents a kind of cyber crime that dupes victims into believing law enforcement agents have arrested them through fake police impersonators who then steal money from the victims.
According to Palghar Superintendent of Police (Rural) Balasaheb Patil the Palghar district resident became victim to the scam from December 18 of last year through February 10.
The criminal situation started when someone pretended to work as a Mumbai police officer who contacted the victim to accuse him of various types of illegality. Reports show that a CBI lawyer entered the call soon after the first law enforcement officer derived his identity.
How the Victim was Threatened by Online Scammers in India
Online Scammers in India: A deceased victim received death threats about harming his daughter before police officers forced him to transfer ₹3.5 crore to multiple bank accounts otherwise he would be arrested.
The police department accomplished the arrest of eight members of the gang which included three siblings due to both their intelligence work and investigation. The police took four arrests in Nagpur as well as three arrests in Ankleshwar and one arrest in Bhantara Aurangabad Bihar.
Police arrested nine culprits and placed seven of them in custody from April 4-9 until a court appearance. Additionally, police will present the Bihar-based subject to judicial authorities on Wednesday.
The complainant was told that he had been placed under digital arrest, said the police, adding that the scammer sought money on the pretext of freeing him. He was assured that the amount paid by him would be returned in the first week of March after a verification by the Reserve Bank of India.
The man transferred Rs3.56 crore in 17 online transactions and when he didn’t get back his money, he tried contacting the scammers, but in vain. He finally came to know about the fraud when he visited the police.
Another Similar Scam Case in India
The fraudsters made away with ₹17.5 lakh from Harbeer Kaur after masquerading as TRAI officials and Delhi crime branch members during their phone call exchange.
The victim reported to Sector 17 Cyber Crime Police Station that they received a call from a person who identified as Rahul Sharma of TRAI and provided ID PB049. Through the number 9580-828-483 the caller informed her that her name had an additional phone number issued for illegal advertisement and harassing communication.
A team was ordered to undertake investigations to track down the suspects. Cyber police station registered a case containing charges of Section 319(2) (cheating through personation), Section 318(4) (cheating through dishonest delivery of property), Section 336(3) (forgery to conduct cheating), Section 338 (forgery of valuable security), Section 340(2) (using forged documents as genuine items) and Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) from BNS.
Millions Lost to Digital Arrest Scam in India
Digital arrest describes a modern cyber fraud technique which uses criminals pretending to be governmental officials to force people into paying them money through deception. Scammers achieve psychological control through threatening behavior to make victims believe they are participants in major criminal acts.
The criminals force their victims to pay numerous monetary amounts so the victims can evade severe penalties including detention in jail.
The Indian legal system does not recognize digital arrests because Yashasvi Yadav, special inspector general of police for the Maharashtra’s Cyber Department made it clear. According to Yadav “Digital arrests stand as advanced frauds which trick both educated individuals along with police personnel.”
According to Pawan Duggal who is a cyber law expert and advocate “Digital arrest occurs when fraudsters create apprehension in a person before demanding payment from them by mistake as a means to turn them into cybercrime victims.”
How to Avoid these Digital Arrest Scammers
The fraudsters start by approaching victims through communication channels such as phone calls and emails and video calls before falsely accusing those victims of drug trafficking and money laundry activities. The perpetrators establish panic and anxiety by warning victims that non-compliance with their instructions will lead to arrest.
The scammers replicate official appearances through both ironed uniforms and bogus identification documents as well as falsified official documents. Such scammers may operate their entire operation inside a fake government office environment to achieve greater credibility in their deceitful activities.
Victims become stuck because scammers order them to maintain camera and microphone access during the entire incident thus blocking their chance to get assistance or disclose their experience to others.
During this period of forced duress the victims have to give money through accounts of the scammers since they think it helps the investigation.
You should take instant protective measures when someone calls claiming you are under digital arrest or subject to legal consequences.
| How to Avoid Digital Arrest Scammers | |
|---|---|
| 1. Any unusual phone call needs immediate reporting to law enforcement organizations. Keep away from speaking with the person who is calling. | 2. Use official channels to verify the law enforcement credentials because unreliable search results and communication from suspicious callers do not guarantee genuine authentication. |
| 3. Academic investigations always maintain their integrity since payment as an arrest-prevention method has no legitimate purpose. The requirement for money transfer from unknown sources triggers an instant warning signal. | 4. Notification to the helpline at 1930 in the span of 15-20 minutes enables you to stop any financial transfers following a successful scam detection. Report your situation to your neighborhood cyber-crime cell as your first step after providing an immediate complaint. |
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has simulated great worry about digital frauds on the rise while calling for users to maintain alertness. The MHA’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) operates to develop enhanced strategies that fight digital scams across the nation.
The ministry stated through its announcement that “The I4C functions as the national coordination hub for cybercrime activities throughout the nation.”
People who fall victim to cybercrimes can obtain assistance by using the official portal www.cybercrime.gov.in where they can find both resources and investigative support to handle their online fraud cases.
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