In a major crack on cyber crime, the Government of India has blocked more than 87,000 accounts on WhatsApp and Skype which were associated with the digital arrest scam. The Cybercrime Coordination Center of India (I4C) was working under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), identified and blocked 3,962 Skype accounts and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts, which were found to be involved in the cyber scam.

State Minister of State, Sanjay Bandi Kumar shared information related to the crack in response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha. Kumar revealed that the accounts that have been blocked were used by the cyber criminal to implement law enforcement officers and withdraw money from unheard individuals.

Indians who lose crores in digital arrest scam

Digital arrest scam is a rising cyber fraud, due to which people have started losing crores of people in the last few years. According to data shared by the government:

In 2022, 39,925 cases related to digital arrest were registered, the victims reportedly caused a total of Rs 91.14 crore.
In 2023, 60,676 cases of this cyber fraud were registered, with a loss of Rs 339.03 crore.
In 2024, the government registered 123,672 cases of digital arrest scam, resulting in a loss of Rs 1,935.51 crore.
By February 2025, 17,718 cases of digital arrest scam have already been informed, in which the victims have lost a total amount of Rs 210.21 crore.

What is happening?

Digital arrest scam is a sophisticated cyber fraud, where scammers have cheated individuals by presenting representatives of agencies like police officers, CBI agents, or Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) or Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The scam usually begins with the victims, who receive calls, SMS or messages on platforms such as WhatsApp or Skype from someone claiming to be a senior government official. The caller accused of being involved in serious crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking, or identity theft.

To carry forward psychological pressure, these scammers create a feeling of urgency and fear by threatening the victim with immediate arrest or legal action. In this process, the victims are often instructed to separate themselves as part of the ‘digital arrest’ to avoid discussing the matter with someone, citing reasons such as “national security” or “privacy”.

Meanwhile, they push the victims to sensitive personal information, such as bank details, passwords or OTP sharing. The victims are forced to avoid arrest or legal consequences and transfer large amounts to settle the case.

This makes this scam more serious, to show that the call is valid, scammers use the spuffed phone number that looks valid, which makes it seem that the call is from a real government agency. They sometimes provide fake case details or documents to look reliable and believe in calls to the victims. And so, thinking of it to be a real call, the victim ends to share their sensitive data and transfer the funds asked by the scammers to the fraudulent bank accounts.

However, it should be noted that digital arrest is not a legal concept and is a word made by scammers to dodge and threaten the victims.

How to be safe from digital arrest

To protect yourself from falling into a digital arrest scam, here are some safety tips:

First and foremost, remember that if someone claims to be a government official, verify your identity by contacting the official agency directly using their publicly available contact information.

Always look for red flags. For example, be cautious by informal number or email address claiming to be from law enforcement. Government officials will never call and ask for sensitive information on the call.

Additionally, look out for pressure strategy, such as demand for immediate arrest threats or privacy. In addition, beware of requests for transfer of money or sensitive personal information.

Most importantly, if you receive such calls, stay calm. Scammers rely on causing fear and urgency. Take a moment to think seriously before taking any action and consult with a reliable family member or friend.

What to do if you lose money in the scam

If you have already become a victim of a digital arrest scam, then take the following steps:

Call 1930 immediately. Cyber ​​crime helpline operates 24/7 to help cyber fraud victims. To increase your chances of fixing your money, file your complaint as soon as possible.

Go to your local police station to file the first information report (FIR). Provide all relevant details including call recording, screenshot and message from scammers.

Save any evidence related to the scam, such as bank transaction details, phone numbers and email addresses used by fraudsters. This will help the authorities to track and investigate the case.

Additionally, if you have shared your bank details or transferred money, inform your bank immediately to block further transactions and secure your account.