A 70-year-old woman from Dehradun recently fell victim to a "digital arrest" scam, losing ₹3 crore after being coerced by cybercriminals posing as CBI officials. These scammers use psychological manipulation, fake documents, and threats to extort money.

How the Scam Works

• Initial Contact: Fraudsters contact victims on WhatsApp, claiming to be law enforcement officials.
• False Allegations: They accuse victims of involvement in serious crimes, such as money laundering or terrorism.
• Fake Documents: Scammers send forged documents, including court orders and arrest warrants, to create fear.
• "Digital Arrest": Victims are threatened with stay-at-home "arrest" via video call until they transfer "clearance fees" or share banking details.

 How to Protect Yourself

• Be Cautious: Never share personal or banking details over phone or WhatsApp. Authorities never ask for money via chat.
• Verify Authenticity: Hang up and contact your nearest police station.
• Report Immediately: Call the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in.

Government & Agency Action

The Central government has constituted a high-level committee to tackle these frauds. The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to act as the primary investigative agency, resulting in the blocking of over 1,700 Skype IDs used by international networks.