New Delhi: Indians suffered losses of Rs 120.3 crore from digital arrest scams in just the first quarter of 2024, according to a report by Indian Express, citing data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The growing concern was even addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his monthly episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.
Earlier this year, the MHA had issued a warning to citizens about a rising trend of cyber criminals impersonating law enforcement agencies to carry out blackmail, extortion, and “Digital Arrests.” These fraudsters pose as officials from the Police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and other agencies to deceive victims and extort money.
Criminals mostly based in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia
Many of those carrying out these frauds are based in southeast Asian countries of Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. In its analysis of trends from January to April, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) found that 46% of reported cyber frauds during this period—resulting in estimated losses of Rs 1,776 crore—originated from just three countries.
Breaking down the losses, trading scams accounted for Rs 1,420.48 crore, investment scams led to losses of Rs 222.58 crore, and romance scams saw victims defrauded of Rs 13.23 crore. Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), explained that these foreign-based operations deploy various deceptive tactics, including recruitment on social media with fake job offers targeting Indian citizens.
Between 1 January and 30 April 2024, 7.4 lakh cybercrime complaints were filed. For comparison, 15.56 lakh complaints were recorded throughout 2023, 9.66 lakh in 2022, and 4.52 lakh in 2021.
What is digital arrest?
Cyber criminals employ a range of tactics to deceive their victims. They often initiate calls claiming that the victim has sent or is set to receive a parcel containing illegal items, such as drugs or fake passports. In some instances, they assert that a relative or friend of the victim is involved in a crime or accident and is in their custody, demanding money to resolve the “case.”
In more severe cases, victims experience a “digital arrest,” where they are compelled to stay visible on Skype or other video conferencing platforms until their demands are fulfilled. To enhance their credibility, these criminals use studios designed to resemble police stations or government offices and don uniforms.
