What is Digital Arrest beware of this method of cheating on video call

Digital Arrest: Online fraud is taking new forms every day. Its newest method has emerged as ‘digital arrest’. In recent times, many such cases have come to light, when criminals ‘digitally arrested’ people to cheat them. They robbed a huge amount without coming in front of the people and fled. The government is also surprised by this method of cheating! It has asked people to be alert. Anyone can fall prey to this method of fraud, so caution is necessary. Let us know what is digital arrest.

Digital Arrest Scam

Digital arrest is a fraud in which criminals introduce themselves as government officials. They connect with people on video calls and gain their trust and ask them to fulfill their demand for money. The victim is trapped in such a way that he is forced to agree to give money.

These methods are used

• The victim is told that his name has come up in a drug smuggling case. The fraudster calling introduces himself as a government officer. The victim is assured that after paying the money, he will be saved from going to jail.
• The victim is told that someone close to him is in trouble. For example, parents are told that their child is trapped in a police case. Fraudsters extort money from the victims. Parents even give money without making any inquiry.

According to media reports, in most cases cyber criminals are calling people wearing police uniforms. Victims are told that a complaint has been received against them. Money is demanded to avoid action. Educated people are becoming victims of this fraud. In many cases IT company professionals and engineers have been cheated.

A case came to light from Delhi-NCR, in which cyber fraudsters talked to a female doctor posing as TRAI officers. The victim was told that her mobile number was distributing illegal content. By the time the female doctor realized that she had been cheated, she had already transferred Rs 60 lakh to the accused.

Thugs are taking help of technology

To execute the digital arrest scam, the thugs are taking the help of technology. They are making fake offices, police stations. They are wearing clothes like government officers. They are using apps used for video conferencing. The victims are kept trapped in video calls for several hours.