Rs. 120.3 crores – that’s the amount innocent Indian citizens have lost to digital arrest scams so far. To give you an idea of how grave the situation is, the average salary of a lower-middle-class earner is around Rs. 35,000 per month (Rs. 4.20 lakh per year) in metros, according to a study by Home Credit India (HCIN).
Scammers have looted thousands of people of their hard-earned money, and as digital transactions permeate more people’s lives, they could reach more people in 2025. The exploitation of financial tools designed to add convenience to our lives is saddening. Scammers utilize sophisticated techniques, impersonating law enforcement or other government agencies, instilling fear among residents going about their lives.
Hence, it is imperative to understand how the scam works, the different techniques used by bad actors, what common patterns are observed in cases, and how you can protect yourself and your beloved family members from becoming victims.
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Different Techniques Used For Digital Arrest Scam
What is digital arrest, and why has it become a successful means for bad actors to milk money? The term arrest is often associated with police stations and lock-ups, which is enough to instill fear and panic in most individuals. It is the inherent fear of legal repercussions, heavy fines, and physical detention that makes the digital arrest so effective.
Usually, a digital arrest scam starts with a phone call or a message, where scammers use the name of a prestigious government organization or law enforcement agency. These messages often include fake warnings about a recently-issued arrest warranty, the threat to start a legal case, or imprisonment. They might include a call-to-action, which could be a phone number, a web link, or the link to a video call.
The primary purpose of the message is to confuse the victim and lead them into contacting the scamsters, who are prepared with their setup. On the flip side, you might receive a sudden video call from an unknown number, where you could see a person sitting in the setting of a police station or a government office, dressed up like a police officer, who starts bombarding you with difficult-to-follow terminology.
During the video call, the scamsters try to convince the victims about their authenticity. They use several techniques to achieve this, such as transferring the call to different departments with a full-fledged set and costumes, making it look like the caller is genuine. Scammers might use pre-recorded videos to fool the victim as well.
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Common Patterns Observed In Digital Arrest Scam Cases
During the first contact with the victim, the scammers establish their authenticity. They might claim they’re from state police, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), ED (Enforcement Directorate), Income Tax officers, etc., claiming that you or a close relative has been caught in a heinous crime and could face severe legal complications if you don’t take immediate action.
The word “immediate” is the key here, as that is the entire leverage these scammers have. As per the advisory released by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), bad actors rely on fear-based language and urgency, demanding quick actions from the victim, which usually involves transferring money. Moreover, the victims don’t get enough time to think about the situation.
In the end, scammers want to dupe the victims of their money. However, they could use multiple tactics to do this. They could demand a huge amount upfront, promising to save the victim (or the relative they’ve been talking about) from legal proceedings.
However, there have been cases where people have been asked about sensitive information, such as email ID, residential address, date of birth, bank account number, UPI IDs, etc., which can then be used to commit identity theft.
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How To Protect Yourself Against Digital Arrest Scams?
Every now and then, government organizations issue an advisory, mentioning that they don’t contact individuals over the phone or via video call and never ask them for money. However, there seems to be a gap in the initiative taken by the government and awareness at the ground level.
First of all, you shouldn’t panic upon encountering such a message or video call. Instead, you should ask for proof of proper identity from the impersonators. Ask as many questions as possible: where has the case been registered, what’s the crime about, who is handling the case, whether it involves a local police station in your area, etc.
More often than not, disconnecting the call and blocking the number should be enough to safeguard yourself from such scams. However, if the scamsters keep calling or contacting you, consider launching an FIR (First Investigation Report), mentioning the contact details. You can also use the national cybercrime helpline (1930) to inform the officials of suspicious activities taking place from a number.
As always, do not click on suspicious links or answer unknown callers unless necessary. Do not share your sensitive details with anyone. It is just by following these simple practices that you could safeguard yourself from the prevalent digital arrest scam in 2025.
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