Bengaluru, 21 Dec

City Police Commissioner B Dayananda issued a warning on Saturday about a new cyber fraud called the ‘Digital Arrest’ scam. He clarified that neither the police nor agencies like CBI or ED can conduct arrests digitally, emphasising that no such legal provision exists.

Explaining the scam, Dayananda said fraudsters contact victims using personal information obtained from various sources. They falsely accuse the victims of crimes like drug trafficking or money laundering and threaten immediate “digital arrest” unless they cooperate.

The scam typically unfolds in several stages:

Initial contact: Scammers call victims, using their name and claiming a courier linked to them contains illegal substances.

False evidence: When victims deny involvement, scammers escalate, mentioning agencies like CBI.

Data extraction: Scammers request sensitive information such as Aadhaar and PAN details.

Psychological manipulation: They use fake evidence to intimidate victims, threatening fines or imprisonment.

Video calls with fake police: Scammers pose as officials, often in police uniform, to further intimidate.

Financial fraud: Victims are instructed to transfer money to a “government account” for verification, with promises of resolution.

Dayananda urged the public to avoid sharing personal or financial information over the phone. He recommended hanging up and contacting the national cybercrime helpline (1930) or visiting the nearest police station to file a report.

“These scams prey on fear, and spreading awareness is key to preventing others from falling victim,” Dayananda said. -Salar News