Do Not Panic: India’s Prime Minister warns against ‘digital arrest’

Scams:

Digital Arrest: Digital arrest scams typically involve fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials or government authorities. Victims are contacted via phone calls, emails, or text messages and are falsely accused of criminal activities, such as money laundering or tax evasion. The scammers often use sophisticated techniques, including official-sounding language, fake case IDs, and even spoofed phone numbers, to make their claims appear legitimate.

It may concern steps that have been undertaken with a view to stopping or preventing unauthorized activities within computerized environments. For instance:

• Protecting a system from penetration or eradicating viruses and worms.
• Preventing any attempt to gain access to a network or apprehending a hacker and stopping attempts on a network.

Prime Minister’s Warning

“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Indians against an emerging online fraud known as "digital arrest". Some people have reportedly been scammed out of millions of rupees by fraudsters, who contact their victims via video call posing as police or tax officials levelling false charges at them. The scammers order their victims to stay in one place - usually their home - under the false pretence of a "digital arrest," telling them not to contact anyone. Modi said digital arrest does not exist in Indian law and no enforcement agency would ever ask citizens for personal details by phone or video call.

"The fraudsters impersonate police, Central Bureau of Investigation, narcotics and at times central bank officials,” Modi said. The scammers appear on screen with a studio setup resembling a police station, tax office or a federal investigation agency. They also wear official-looking uniforms to appear legitimate and produce fake ID cards. Scammers typically claim that the victim has sent a parcel containing illegal goods such as drugs, or claim their phone has been linked to illegal activity. Deepfake videos and false arrest warrants have also been reported as part of the scam.

"The fraudsters impersonate police, Central Bureau of Investigation, narcotics and at times central bank officials," Modi said.

Examples of Scams

In August, Bengaluru police arrested several men after a victim was allegedly scammed out of more than 20 million rupees ($237,000; £183,000), according to Indian media reports.

Actor Maala Parvathi, who appears mainly in Malayalam-language movies, also reported being targeted by the scam this month. Indian media reported that she said the scammers showed her fake ID cards, pretending to be officers from Mumbai Police, accused her of smuggling drugs to Taiwan and placed her under virtual arrest for questioning. She realised it was a fraud before any exchange of money took place, she reportedly said.

In his warning to the nation, Modi told victims to follow three steps to stay safe. "First, stay calm and do not panic. Record or take a screen recording, if possible," the prime minister said. "Second, remember that no government agency will threaten you online. "Third, take action by calling the national cyber helpline and also inform police about the crime"

Why Are These Scams Effective?

• Fear and Urgency: The main tool of these scams is in their psychological effects. Arrestment or legal charges put victims under pressure to act based on instants.

• Sophisticated Techniques: Current scammers employ technology in their communications and the messages appear like they are from legitimate organizations.
• Lack of Awareness: Most people, especially beginners in using digital technology, have no clue on how these scams work, and are hence vulnerable.

Steps to Protect Yourself

Such reminder from the prime Minister makes people to remain alert from such circumstances within the Kenyan community. Here are some actionable steps to protect yourself from falling prey to digital arrest scams:

• Verify Before Acting: Scammers also love initiating contacts, so always confirm the identity of the contacting person or company. It should also be noted that the official agencies will never request you to make instant payments by phone or via e-mail.
• Do Not Share Personal Information: Do not disclose your bank account numbers or details, OTP or the Aadhaar information to unknown callers or to websites.
• Stay Informed: Be aware of the typical scams and make it your mission to spread the word to your close ones and everyone else who may be native online.
• Report Suspicious Activity: If you think that you have been a victim of a scam, first file a complaint to your local cybercrime cell or utilise the government’s cybercrime reporting centre.
• Enable Security Features: Make sure to secure your accounts online by creating two factor authentication and also make a habit to change your passwords.

Government Initiatives to Combat Cybercrime

India’s government has taken several measures to address the growing threat of cybercrime, including: Organizing campaigns to enlighten the citizens on the issue that they are faced with by con artists online.

Enhancing capacity of police to uncover and punish cyber criminals. Implementing the better regulatory measures following of digital payment platforms so as to Reduce the odds of being fraudulently.

Conclusion

People should be reminded that digital arrest scams are a reflection of how living our lives online poses us to these risks. That way, there is no way we can allow ourselves, and close friends and family, to be victims of such attempts. Now that India is gradually shifting to fully-fledged digital economy, it is high time the citizens change their attitude to embrace cyber security. Always, the best strategy is to prevent the occurrence of cybercrime and the best way is for you to be aware of the events around you. Be prepared, do not become a victim and please inform your friends, relatives, and others to evade the future falls into the trap of digital arrest scam.

Be prepared, stay informed, and help others avoid falling victim to digital arrest scams.