On Sunday, 27th October, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned about a digital fraud happening in India on his 115th episode of Mann Ki Baat. He talked about a cybercrime called Digital Arrest. He said that it is very important for the public to understand about it in order to not become a victim of this online scam. He also explained about the three steps that are involved in the process of Digital arrest.
During the episode, he played an audio-video clip featuring a conversation and said “This video has emerged with a deep concern. The conversation that you just heard is related to the scam of Digital Arrest. This conversation is between a victim and a fraudster.” With this video PM tried to spread awareness about this emerging online scam.
What is digital arrest?
Digital arrest is a cybercrime where the fraudster claims to be an officer of an investigative government agency or other law enforcement like CBI, Narcotics, RBI, TRAI, customs and tax officials. These fraudsters approach their targets through audio or video calls in order to intimidate them and then ask huge amount of money by restricting them in one location that is usually the target’s own home pretending that they have arrested the victim.
In this scam, the fraudsters claim that the target has sent or has been sent a parcel that contains illegal goods like drugs and fake IDs or they claim that the victim’s phone has been misused in order to conduct an illegal operation. These fraudsters when video call their target, they use the studios modelled on police stations and government offices and then wear the uniforms of the agency they want to represent.
PM Modi highlighted the steps fraudsters follow in order to trap the victim. He said that firstly, the fraudster will collect your personal information, following this, they will create an atmosphere of fear and try to intimidate the victim. In the last step, they feel start pressurising and threatening the victim. They will say that the victim has to transfer the asked amount of money or else they will be arrested.
PM Modi then explained the solution to this emerging issue. He advised the public to stop, think and take action in these kinds of situations. He said that firstly people should not panic in this situation and try to stay calm, he then said the public to think once that no government agency will threaten someone on a voice or a video call. Lastly, he asked the public to take action by dialling 1930, the national cyber helpline number.