Digital arrest scam: what it is and what to do

A call or video call comes from someone who says they are from the police, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, customs or a telecom regulator. They say a parcel in your name contains drugs, or your Aadhaar has been linked to money laundering. You are told you are now under "digital arrest": you must stay on camera, tell no one, and transfer money to prove your innocence.

None of this is real. There is no such thing as a digital arrest in Indian law. This guide explains what the scam is, how it works, how to spot it, and exactly what to do if it happens to you or someone in your family.

Digital arrest meaning (digital arrest kya hota hai?)

"Digital arrest" is the name given to a type of impersonation fraud. Criminals pose as officials, accuse the victim of a serious crime, and keep them under constant watch over a video call while pressuring them to pay. In Hindi, you might explain it this way: digital arrest ek dhokha hai, asli giraftari nahi (digital arrest is a fraud, not a real arrest).

The Ministry of Home Affairs warned about this in May 2024. As reported by All India Radio Newsthe Ministry said victims are made to "undergo digital arrest and remain visually available over Skype or other video conferencing platform" until the fraudsters' demands are met, and that the fraudsters use studios modelled on police stations and government offices, and wear uniforms, to appear genuine. The Ministry described it as organised online economic crime, believed to be run by cross-border syndicates.

How the digital arrest scam usually unfolds

1. The first call. Often a recorded message or "courier company" or "telecom department" caller says there is a problem with a parcel, your SIM or your bank account.
2. The transfer to an "officer". You are connected to someone posing as police, CBI, ED, narcotics or RBI staff. They may know your name, address or Aadhaar number, which makes them seem official.
3. The accusation. Drugs, fake passports, money laundering or a case against a family member.
4. The video call. You are told to join a video call, keep the camera on and stay in the room. You may see a uniform, a badge, a "police station" background or forged documents with official seals.
5. Isolation. You are told the matter is confidential and that telling family will lead to immediate arrest.
6. The payment. You are asked to transfer savings to a "safe" or "verification" account, pay a "security deposit", or break fixed deposits, with the promise of a refund once you are cleared.

Warning signs: how to recognise a digital arrest scam

• Anyone says you are "under digital arrest" or must stay on a video call. Real agencies do not arrest people over video calls.
• You are asked to transfer money to verify your funds, clear your name or avoid arrest. Genuine police, CBI, ED or customs never ask for this.
• You are told not to tell family or not to leave the room.
• You are asked for OTPs, PINs, UPI PINs or to install a screen-sharing app. Banks and officials never ask for these.
• Official-looking documents arrive on WhatsApp: warrants, notices, letterheads. These are easy to forge.
• The caller escalates threats when you ask to verify, call a lawyer or speak to family.

Does AI play a role?

Many digital arrest scams use real people in fake uniforms. But voice and video cloning tools mean a caller could also impersonate a known officer, or a family member said to be "in custody". You do not need to work out whether the voice is AI to protect yourself, because the rule does not change: no genuine agency arrests anyone over a video call. If you have a recording and want a second opinion, see our guide on how to tell if a voice note is AI.

What to do: step by step

1. Disconnect. Hang up the call or video call. You are not legally required to stay on it.
2. Do not pay and do not share any OTP, PIN or bank details.
3. Talk to someone you trust right away: family, a friend, a neighbour. Scammers rely on isolation.
4. Verify independently. If you are worried a case is real, contact your local police station using a number you look up yourself, not one the caller gives you.
5. Report the attempt. Report the number or message through Chakshu on Sanchar Saathiwhich accepts reports of impersonation of government officials over calls, SMS or WhatsApp.

Digital arrest helpline number: if you have already paid

Act fast. Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 and file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Both are the official channels named by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Keep screenshots, call logs, account numbers and transaction IDs. Then inform your bank. Our guide on what to do if you sent money to a scammer in India explains the next steps in detail.

The government is acting on this scam too. According to a Ministry of Home Affairs statement released by PIB in December 2024I4C proactively identified and blocked more than 1700 Skype IDs and 59,000 WhatsApp accounts used for digital arrest, and the Government and telecom providers have devised a system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers.

Protecting elderly parents and relatives

Retired people and those living alone are frequent targets because they may have savings and may be more likely to comply with authority. A short conversation can help a great deal:

• Tell them plainly: police never arrest anyone on a video call, and never ask for money transfers.
• Agree that they will always call you before moving money, and that you will never be upset by the call.
• Save 1930 in their phone as "Cyber Crime Helpline".
• Agree a family code word for real emergencies, as described in our family emergency voice cloning guide.
• Remind them that banks never ask for OTPs. See also fake bank OTP calls with cloned voices.

A digital arrest scam works only while the victim stays on the call, stays silent and stays afraid. Hanging up, telling someone and calling 1930 breaks all three.

Sources

• Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs: Digital Arrest Scam (10 December 2024)
• All India Radio News: Home Ministry warns against fraudsters posing as government officials (14 May 2024)
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (Government of India)
• Sanchar Saathi, Chakshu: report suspected fraud communication (Department of Telecommunications)