New Delhi: Amid mounting cases of ‘digital arrest’ across the country, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has issued a public advisory on how to combat these crimes.
According to the advisory, the centre pointed out that law enforcement agencies like the police, CBI, customs, Enforcement Directorate, or judges do not carry out arrests through video calls, while cautioning the people against falling prey to such devious designs.
While carrying the logo of social media platforms like Skype and WhatsApp, the panel added in its advisory that such scams often engage the victims and communicate with them through these platforms.
“Don’t Panic, Stay Alert. CBI/Police/Custom/ED/Judges DO NOT arrest you on video call,” said the advisory which was issued on Saturday.
Earlier, these social media platforms had stated that they were joining hands with the government cyber security agencies to boost user safety.
The advisory also extorted the public to report such crimes on helpline number 1930 or visit the cyber crime’s website and register their complaint.
In September, a senior official in the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) was fleeced of Rs 55 lakh in a ‘digital arrest’ scam. Police have arrested three people in the case.
Several cases of ‘digital arrest’ have rocked different parts of the country, with the scammers targeting mostly the vulnerable section of the population: the elderly.
How does ‘digital arrest’ take place?
‘Digital arrest’ is a cyber crime which has become quite prevalent. In this, the scamsters send SMS messages or engage their target on video calls, mostly impersonating law enforcement officials from government probe agencies. In some case, they also pose as courier company or telecom authorities to trick their victim into believing that they are on the wrong side of the law.
The fraudsters claim that the person or someone in their family have been found involved in some criminal activities like money laundering or drug trafficking and hence, they were being arrested over video calls.
The cyber thugs force the person to stay confined to their house, asking them to keep their mobile phone cameras on. After a few days, they start demanding money online so that he or she could be released from the ‘digital arrest’.
