1: Introduction and Context

  • 'Digital arrest' scams are a rising trend in India, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has raised an alarm about it.
  • Cybercriminals, masquerading as government officials, intimidate and con innocent individuals into giving them money.
  • The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in collaboration with Microsoft, is also aiding efforts to combat these digital scams.

2: Understanding Digital Arrest Scams

  • Scammers impersonate officials from the police, RBI, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and the Narcotics Department.
  • The standard modus operandi is to allege the victims' involvement in illegal activities, such as handling contraband items or having relations involved in criminal activities.
  • There are cases where victims are subjected to a 'digital arrest,' forced to remain on video calls with the fraudsters until their demands are met.
  • The end goal of these scams is to extort money by threatening to expose fabricated legal cases.

3: Countermeasures Against Digital Arrest Scams

  • The I4C has taken proactive steps, including blocking over 1,000 Skype accounts associated with these scams.
  • Further, the I4C is working on blocking the SIM cards, mobile devices, and mule accounts used by the scammers.
  • The MHA has identified that the scams are frequently linked to cross-border crime syndicates, indicating a substantial online economic crime network.
  • Alert mechanisms have been activated, with I4C issuing warnings about such scams through its social media platform "cyberdost" and other
  • Victims are urged to immediately report any such occurrence on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or the cybercrime helpline

4: About the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)

  • The I4C is an arm of the MHA, established in New Delhi to provide a framework for law enforcement agencies to tackle cybercrime comprehensively and collaboratively.
  • I4C functions as the central point to curb cybercrime in the country.
  • It introduces suitable amendments to cyber laws according to evolving technologies and facilitates international cooperation.
  • Helping in coordinating the implementation of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) is also one of its major roles. MLAT is a bilateral agreement among countries enabling the exchange of information and evidence to enforce criminal or public laws.