Digital Arrest Scam 2025 – The Dark Reality & How to Stay Safe
Hands Up! You Are Digitally Arrested!!!
Friends, in the past few days, you must have heard about Digital Arrest scams all over social media and news channels. Victims have shared how they were kept under digital arrest for hours and hours and scammed out of lakhs and crores of rupees. And in India, it has become so common that every other day, you will hear about a new Digital Arrest case happening somewhere.
By now, a question must be popping into your mind—What the hell is Digital Arrest? And how can I protect myself from getting trapped in one of these scams?
Well, today, I will explain everything about Digital Arrest and all the scams related to it. And not just that, I will also reveal some hidden facts about Digital Arrest that NO video or article has told you before!
What is Digital Arrest?
You must have seen in Bollywood movies where a cop points a gun at a criminal and says, “Hands up! You are under arrest!“ But since this is about Digital Arrest, it’s a completely different game.
To put it simply—you are kidnapped online through a video call!
In most cases, scammers will video call or audio call you and pretend to be:
-A police officer
-An intelligence officer
-A narcotics department official
-Sometimes even an RAW or CBI officer
And they don’t just call randomly—they set up a whole fake official scene to make it look real. The person calling you will:
- Wear a police uniform with a nameplate and stars
- Have a fake holster with a dummy revolver on their waist
- Set up a fake police office background
And once they start talking, the emotional torture and blackmailing begins.
According to multiple victims, these scammers kept them under digital arrest for 8-10 hours straight! Imagine that—10 hours of continuous mental pressure!
Why Is Digital Arrest More Dangerous Than Other Scams?
Because unlike other scams, Digital Arrest scams are well-planned and psychologically brutal. These cyber criminals don’t just call anyone randomly—they first analyze your entire data.
Let me explain.
I used a word earlier—data analysis. This means that before they call you, they already have complete information about you, such as:
-Your family members’ details
-Your children’s whereabouts
-Your property details
-Your bank details
-Your Aadhar number, mobile number, DOB
In some cases, they even have your personal secrets, like private recordings, videos, or something else…
They use this information to trap you using different strategies, such as:
1) The “Your Child Has Been Arrested” Scam
One of the most dangerous scams targets parents whose children live away from home—whether for studies or work.
Here’s how they do it:
- They wait for the right moment—when your child’s phone is switched off.
- At that exact time, you receive a call from a fake officer:
“Your son/daughter has been arrested! We caught them with a huge quantity of drugs—ganja, smack, heroin, brown sugar!” - You start panicking.
- You immediately try to call your child—but their phone is switched off.
- This is where they trap you.
- They use your fear and emotions against you and pressure you to transfer money immediately to “save your child.”
98% of the victims fall into this trap. The fear of their child being arrested forces them to send lakhs of rupees without even verifying anything!
2) The Fake Customs Parcel Scam
- You get a call from a fake customs officer.
- He says: “A package in your name has arrived at the airport, and during scanning, we found illegal narcotics inside!”
- You panic.
- They tell you that to avoid legal action, you need to pay a fine immediately.
- Scared of getting into trouble, many victims transfer money instantly.
Reality: There was never a parcel in your name. It’s all a big setup.
3) The Fake Police Station Video Call Scam
- You receive a video call from a so-called police officer.
- In the background, you can see a fake police station setup.
- They tell you that you are involved in a fake drug case, a fake money laundering case, or some other criminal activity.
- They emotionally break you down by talking for hours and hours.
- You start believing it’s all real and agree to send money just to get out of it.
80% of people fall for this trap and transfer money out of fear.
4) The Honey Trap Scam
- A random woman starts talking to the victim.
- Slowly, she builds a connection through phone calls and video calls.
- At some point, private moments are shared.
- BOOM! Blackmailing begins.
- The victim, scared of social embarrassment, transfers money to save their reputation.
Most Honey Trap cases never get reported because victims fear being exposed.
5) The Loan App Scam (The Hidden Data Leak Trap)
A few years ago, instant loan apps became super popular.
- People downloaded these apps without realizing they were giving full access to their phone.
- These apps collected contacts, SMS, photos, and personal details.
- Later, loan recovery agents harassed borrowers by calling their family, threatening them, and even leaking private photos!
- Some victims were mentally tortured to the point of suicide.
This same leaked data is now being used for Digital Arrest scams!
6) The Phishing Link Scam
- You receive a random SMS, email, or WhatsApp message with a clickbait link.
- You click it out of curiosity.
- BOOM! Your phone is hacked.
- The scammer now has full access to your data, passwords, and even your camera.
Who Are These Scammers? Where Are They Operating From?
THESE SCAMMERS ARE SPREAD ACROSS THE WORLD – TRAINED TO PLAY WITH YOUR FEAR!
These scammers aren’t just random people sitting somewhere and trying their luck—they are professionally trained. Recently, I read in a newspaper about how these criminals undergo proper training on how to execute these scams.
- How to make a call sound authentic
- How to create a fear factor & psychological trap
- How to manipulate the victim’s emotions step by step
- How to make the Digital Arrest process feel 100% real
Their goal is simple—to mentally trap the victim so badly that he starts believing there’s no way out.
The shocking part? Most of these scammers are highly educated youngsters.
- Many of them are well-spoken, tech-savvy, and know exactly how to manipulate people.
- Due to unemployment and financial pressure, they have entered the dark world of cybercrime.
And here’s where it gets even scarier—
- Some of them don’t even feel like they’re committing a crime anymore.
- For them, it’s just another job.
- They follow daily targets, scripts, and strategies, just like a professional sales team.
- They have managers, training sessions, and even monthly incentives for big scams.
This isn’t just a scam—it’s a full-fledged business now.
And the worst part? They aren’t just in India—they are operating from different parts of the world.
From call centers in Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Dubai, and even Nigeria—these scams are being run like organized crime syndicates.
So next time you get a suspicious call, remember—you are NOT talking to some amateur fraudster.
You are dealing with a highly trained scammer whose only goal is to make YOU panic and steal your money.
Stay sharp, stay alert, and NEVER let them control your fear!
Recently, I saw a viral video on Instagram of a Digital Arrest scammer speaking in a Pakistani accent. This confirms that these scammers are operating not just from India but from outside the country as well.
Let’s First Look at Some Recent Digital Arrest Cases in India
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh – RAVINDRA KULKARNI DIGITAL ARREST CASE
In September 2024, a resident of Mangal Nagar, Ujjain, Ravindra Kulkarni, received a phone call. The caller introduced himself as Inspector Hemraj Koli from Mumbai’s Andheri Police Station.
Through a video call, the caller accused Ravindra of possessing objectionable videos and being involved in money laundering. He was threatened with Digital Arrest.
Out of fear, Ravindra transferred more than ₹2.5 crore from his wife’s bank account to the scammer’s account. Later, the family realized they were scammed and filed a police complaint.
(Source: ABPLIVE.COM)
Hyderabad, Telangana – A.V. MOHAN RAO DIGITAL ARREST SCAM
A 79-year-old retired consultant, A.V. Mohan Rao, received a call where the caller pretended to be a Mumbai Police officer and showed him a fake digital arrest warrant.
The scammer claimed that Mohan Rao’s Aadhaar and phone number were linked to money laundering and illegal activities.
Out of fear, Mohan Rao transferred ₹2 crore in three different transactions.
(Source: NAVBHARATTIMES.INDIATIMES.COM)
Social Media Influencer Ankush Bahuguna’s Experience
In January 2025, famous social media influencer Ankush Bahuguna received an automated call stating that an illegal package was registered under his name.
The caller told him that an arrest warrant had been issued, and he needed to talk to the police officer in charge.
Through a video call, scammers mentally pressured him for 40 hours straight, keeping him in a state of complete fear.
Luckily, later, his friends helped him escape this trap.
Indore, Madhya Pradesh – Businessman got scammed 33 Lakh
In December 2024, an Indore-based businessman received a call from a scammer impersonating a CBI officer.
The scammer accused him of being involved in money laundering and told him that he was digitally arrested.
To resolve the matter, the scammer demanded ₹33 lakh.
Scared, the businessman transferred the money to the scammer’s account.
Later, he realized he had been scammed and filed a police complaint.
Delhi – Journalist got scammed 1.86 Crores
In October 2024, a 50-year-old journalist from Delhi was scammed for ₹1.86 crore by cyber criminals.
The scammers pretended to be law enforcement officers, accused him of money laundering, and threatened him with digital arrest.
Scared of legal trouble, the journalist transferred the money without questioning.
Noida, Uttar Pradesh – Retired govt. office got scammed 1.19 crore
A retired government officer in Noida lost ₹1.19 crore to cyber criminals.
Scammers pretended to be CBI officers and accused him of money laundering and financial fraud.
They threatened him with digital arrest, and out of fear, he transferred the money to the fraudster’s account.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 27 year old lady got scammed for 5 lakh
A 27-year-old woman from Ahmedabad lost ₹5 lakh to cyber criminals.
The scammer pretended to be a police officer, accused her of being involved in money laundering, and threatened her with a fake arrest.
Scared and confused, she transferred the money to avoid trouble.
Ludhiana, Punjab – S.P. OSWAL DIGITAL ARREST SCAM
In September 2024, a well-known businessman from Ludhiana, S.P. Oswal, was scammed for ₹6.9 crore.
Cyber criminals posed as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and accused him of money laundering.
They even conducted a fake Supreme Court hearing, where a fake Chief Justice of India was present to make the scam look real.
Out of fear, Oswal transferred ₹6.9 crore to the scammers.
Later, police recovered ₹5.5 crore and arrested two individuals.
After reading all these cases, I kept wondering—how did so many people transfer such HUGE amounts to cyber criminals?
People say they sent money because of fear, blackmail, and social pressure, but the real question is:
What kind of fear? Fear of what?
Fear is only felt by those who have actually done something wrong.
Moral of the Story:
Your privacy and data are already with cyber criminals. They know everything about you—who you talk to, what you do, where you go, and what you are involved in.
After gathering all this personal information, they strategically target you.
As I said before, this entire scam is a psychological trap.
Just think about it—how many people are getting trapped in this scam every single day?
International Cyber Crime Cases
Australia
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported that in 2024, Australians lost 851 million Australian dollars to cyber scams.
Most scams were investment frauds, romance scams, and identity theft cases.
United States
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 791,790 complaints in 2024, with a total loss of over $4.2 billion.
The most common scams were phishing, Nigerian Prince scams, and business email compromise frauds.
United Kingdom
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported a rise in cyber crimes in the UK in 2024, including banking fraud, phishing attacks, and ransomware incidents.
Canada
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported that over 101 million Canadian dollars were lost to cyber scams in 2024.
The most common frauds were investment scams, service scams, and phishing attacks.
Singapore
The Singapore Police Force reported a 50% increase in cyber crimes in 2024, including e-commerce fraud, love scams, and investment fraud.
Germany
The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) noted a rise in online banking fraud, phishing, and ransomware attacks in 2024.
Japan
Japan’s National Police Agency reported a significant increase in online fraud, phishing scams, and unauthorized computer access in 2024.
South Africa
The Cyber Crime Unit of South Africa reported an increase in financial fraud cases, including banking fraud, phishing, and ransomware attacks.
Nigeria
The Nigerian Crime Commission recorded a surge in cyber scams in 2024, including Nigerian Prince scams, phishing, and identity theft.
Russia
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a rise in banking fraud, phishing, and ransomware attacks in 2024.
What Steps Has the Indian Government Taken?
To tackle Digital Arrest scams and other cyber crimes, the Government of India has taken several steps:
- The Ministry of Home Affairs established the Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to combat cyber crimes nationwide.
- I4C has launched awareness campaigns via newspapers, Delhi Metro announcements, social media influencers, and national news broadcasts.
- A pre-recorded message is now played on phone calls, warning people about fake police and scam calls.
- I4C has blocked over 1,800 Skype IDs and 59,500 WhatsApp accounts used for Digital Arrest scams.
- PM Narendra Modi has also warned people about Digital Arrest fraud in his “Mann Ki Baat” program.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM DIGITAL ARREST SCAMS?
1- My First and Most Important Advice – NEVER Answer These Calls!
No matter who is calling, no matter how much they scare you, DO NOT RESPOND.
- If you get a random call or video call, cut it immediately – don’t even listen to their nonsense.
- The moment you engage, you give them a chance to trap you.
- Report the number to your local police or Cyber Helpline 1930.
- 99% of these scams start the moment you start responding. So the best way to avoid it is to NOT let it happen in the first place.
2- NEVER Install Untrusted Apps!
- Avoid downloading unnecessary apps.
- Never allow permissions unless it’s absolutely required.
- If you don’t use an app, DELETE it.
- Your privacy is already compromised – your phone is a goldmine of data, and every app you install could be leaking it.
- And let me tell you straight – NOTHING is encrypted.
- The more you allow access, the more your privacy is at risk.
3- NEVER Share Your Private Moments on Video Calls!
- No matter who it is, never do anything private over a video call.
- Your call might be getting recorded on some unknown server.
- You have already given camera access to multiple apps on your phone, so don’t think you’re safe.
- If someone is insisting on a video call, think twice before trusting them!
4- DO NOT Click on Random Links in Emails or Messages!
- Sometimes, you’ll get an email or a message with a clickbait title like:
- “Your KYC is Expiring – Click to Update!”
- “You Have Won a Lottery – Claim Now!”
- “Your Account Will Be Blocked – Verify Here!”
- DON’T FALL FOR IT.
- Clicking on these suspicious links can give hackers full access to your phone.
- Even a single click can leak all your data.
5- Check How Many Mobile Numbers Are Registered Under Your Aadhaar
- Do you know how many SIM cards are active under your name?
- It’s possible that scammers have issued multiple SIMs in your name WITHOUT your knowledge.
- Let me tell you how they do it:
- You go to a local SIM card stall to buy a new number.
- The dealer asks you to scan your thumb for biometric verification.
- You scan it once – but the dealer asks you to scan it again, saying it didn’t read properly.
- Reality check: The first scan already worked, but the second scan was to issue another SIM in your name without your knowledge!
- Now imagine: Your name is being used for criminal activities, and you don’t even know it.
- So, check and verify all SIM cards linked to your Aadhaar ASAP!
6- NEVER Scan Unknown QR Codes!
- Scammers use QR codes to access your phone.
- The moment you scan an untrusted QR code, your data is at risk.
- Avoid scanning random QR codes at petrol pumps, restaurants, or any unknown places.
7- If Your Family Member’s Phone is Switched Off & You Get a Suspicious Call – DON’T PANIC!
- Many cyber criminals specifically target people when their child or family member’s phone is OFF.
- They wait for the right moment and then call you saying:
“Your son/daughter is in custody! We caught them with drugs!” - Since your family member’s phone is switched off, you can’t verify the truth immediately.
- This is exactly where they trap you.
- DON’T panic. Instead, verify it through alternative sources.
- Keep multiple emergency contacts saved so that you can cross-check in such situations.
8- Beware of Spam Emails Flooding Your Inbox!
- Every day, you receive hundreds of emails in your inbox.
- Some of them contain malware links designed to hack your phone.
- Even a single accidental click can compromise your data and privacy.
- So, be extremely careful before clicking on anything suspicious.
FINAL WORDS – DON’T LET FEAR CONTROL YOU!
Cyber criminals thrive on fear. They create a psychological trap that forces you to act without thinking.
The best way to stay safe is simple:
1-NEVER respond to random video calls.
2-NEVER click suspicious links.
3-NEVER give unnecessary app permissions.
4-VERIFY every call before believing anything.
CONCLUSION – DIGITAL ARREST IS A GAME OF FEAR
Digital Arrest is all about fear. This scam only works as long as the victim falls into the trap of fear. So, don’t let fear control you.
- Never entertain calls from unknown numbers
- Forget about picking up random video calls
- Stop sharing personal data on social media
- Do not store private data on your phone
- If you ever get a suspicious call, don’t panic—immediately report it to the nearest police station or Cyber Helpline 1930
This is not just about Digital Arrest scams—new scams will keep coming in the future, and you need to be prepared for all of them.
The phone in your hand is no less than a dangerous weapon. Use it wisely, use it smartly.
And with this, I end my words here. Stay safe, stay secure.