Digital arrest scam: what it is and what to do

A "digital arrest" is a scam. There is no such thing in Indian law. Fraudsters pretend to be from the CBI, ED, customs, police, TRAI or a courier company. They keep you on a video call, say you are "under arrest", and pressure you to send money to "clear your name". Real officers never arrest anyone on a video call and never ask for money to check your account. If you get this call, cut it, do not pay, and call 1930.

What is a digital arrest scam?

It is a type of cyber fraud built on fear. The criminal convinces you that you or a family member is mixed up in a serious crime, such as drugs, money laundering or a fake passport. They then say you must stay on camera and must not talk to anyone, or you will be "physically arrested". They keep you on the call for hours, sometimes days, until you transfer money.

The I4C calls these callers cyber criminals, and Business Standard's explainer puts it simply: "There is nothing called digital arrest in the law." The Prime Minister warned about this scam in Mann Ki Baat on 27 October 2024 and gave the mantra "Stop, Think, Take Action" (reported in the same article).

How big is the problem?

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs' reply in the Rajya Sabha on 12 March 2025, the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal received 1,23,672 digital arrest complaints in 2024, with about ₹1,935 crore lost. In 2022 the figures were 39,925 complaints and ₹91 crore (PTI report via The Week). The government also said that by early 2025 it had blocked more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts used for digital arrests (PIB, 25 March 2025).

How the digital arrest script usually works

The details change, but the steps are almost always the same:

1. The hook call. An automated or live call says something like "Your courier parcel has been seized at customs", "Your Aadhaar was used to open a bank account for money laundering", or "Your mobile number will be disconnected in two hours, press 9". The caller may claim to be from a courier company, TRAI, customs or the cyber cell. (TRAI has said it does not call people about disconnecting numbers.)
2. The "transfer" to an officer. You are connected to a fake "inspector" or "CBI officer". The parcel supposedly has drugs, fake passports or a lot of cash in your name.
3. The video call. They move you to WhatsApp or Skype video. The person wears a uniform and sits in front of a backdrop that looks like a police station or office. They may show a fake ID card, an "arrest warrant" or a letter with a government logo.
4. Isolation. You are told the case is "confidential" and you must not tell family, cut the call, or leave the room. Some victims are made to check into a hotel or keep the camera on all night.
5. The money demand. To "prove" your money is clean, you must transfer your savings to a "secure", "RBI" or "verification" account. They promise to return it after the check. It never comes back.

Red flags: how to know it is fake

• Anyone says you are "under digital arrest" or "online custody". That phrase alone means it is a fraud.
• The "officer" insists on a video call and tells you not to disconnect or talk to anyone.
• You are asked to transfer money, break an FD, take a loan, or buy gift cards or crypto to "verify" funds.
• You receive arrest warrants, court orders or "RBI letters" on WhatsApp.
• The caller knows some of your details (name, Aadhaar last digits, address). Scammers buy leaked data, so this does not make them real.
• The pressure is extreme: "decide in 10 minutes or police will reach your house".

Digital arrest fraud call: what to do right now

1. Hang up. You do not need permission to cut a call. A real investigation never happens over WhatsApp video.
2. Do not pay or share anything. No OTP, no Aadhaar or PAN photo, no bank details, no screen sharing.
3. Tell someone you trust straight away: a family member, friend or neighbour. Scammers depend on you staying alone and scared.
4. Check independently if you are worried. Call your local police station using a number you find yourself, not one the caller gave you.
5. Report the number on Chakshu, the suspected-fraud reporting facility on Sanchar Saathi. It covers fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages, including people pretending to be government officials.
6. If any money has gone, call 1930 immediately and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Chakshu is only for reporting the call; it does not handle money that has already been lost.

What to do if you have already paid

Do not feel ashamed; careful, educated people are caught by this scam every day. Speed matters most now:

1. Call 1930 at once (the national cyber fraud helpline). Give your bank name, account number, the date, time and amount of every transfer, and the UPI ID or account you paid to. Note down the acknowledgement or complaint number.
2. Call your bank's official customer care (number from the back of your card or the bank's website) and ask them to report the transactions as fraud.
3. Complete the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with screenshots and statements. Our step-by-step guide to the 1930 complaint explains each field.
4. In Gujarat: since 27 July 2026, a complaint about cyber financial fraud made on 1930 can automatically generate an e-Zero FIR that is forwarded to the police station with jurisdiction, so you do not have to visit a station just to start the case (Gujarat Samachar, GKToday). The police will still contact you for details.
5. Keep everything: call logs, WhatsApp chats, the video caller's number or Skype ID, fake documents they sent, and bank SMS. Do not delete the chats.
6. Beware of "recovery agents" who promise to get your money back for a fee. They are scammers too.

How to protect elderly parents

Older people living alone are a common target. Tell them three things: police never arrest on video call, never transfer money because a caller says so, and always call family first. Save 1930 in their phone. You can also turn on WhatsApp's "Silence unknown callers" option, which our WhatsApp security checklist explains, and read how to identify a fraud call.

Got a link or message from the "officer"?

Scammers sometimes send a link to a fake "case file", "court notice" or app. Do not open it or install anything. Paste the link into our free link checker first, and read how to check if a link is fake.

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. If you have lost money to fraud, call 1930 immediately or report at cybercrime.gov.in.