Home Ministry Forms High-Level Committee to Tackle 'Digital Arrest' Scam

New Delhi, October 30, 2024: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has established a high-level committee to address the surge in digital arrest scams targeting unsuspecting citizens across India. Tasked with investigating and prosecuting perpetrators, the committee will operate under the monitoring of the Secretary of the Ministry’s Internal Security. The Ministry’s Cybercrime Coordination Centre (14C) has also reached out to police forces in all states and union territories to inform them of the committee’s establishment and to coordinate efforts against these cybercrimes.

So far, more than 6,000 digital arrest complaints have been registered this year, with the Cybercrime Coordination Centre blocking over 600,000 mobile numbers linked to scams where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officers to intimidate victims. The centre has also frozen 3.25 lakh fraudulent bank accounts and blocked 709 mobile applications used in connection with these scams, which have defrauded citizens out of an estimated Rs 120.30 crore in just the first quarter of this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue during his recent Mann Ki Baat broadcast, urging citizens to “stop, think, and take action” if confronted with such a scheme. He emphasized that no government agency conducts interrogations or issues arrest threats over the phone, calling on citizens to exercise caution and awareness to protect themselves from this increasingly prevalent scam.

'Digital arrest' scams involve fraudsters who pose as law enforcement or regulatory officials, intimidating individuals over video or audio calls with fabricated arrest threats. Victims are often pressured into transferring money or providing sensitive information under the guise of avoiding legal consequences. 

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) recently issued an advisory warning that these conmen exploit panic and urgency to prevent rational decision-making, urging the public to verify calls and remain vigilant.

By Catholic Connect Reporter