New Delhi: The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an advisory cautioning citizens about a rising cyber scam known as “digital arrest.” This scam involves fraudsters impersonating officials from agencies like the CBI, Police, or the Enforcement Directorate through video calls or messages. Victims are falsely accused of involvement in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking or money laundering, and are coerced to keep their cameras on while being pressured to transfer money under the guise of “bail” payments.
The advisory warns the public not to panic or fall prey to these tactics, stressing that no official authority conducts arrests through video calls or demands ransom payments digitally. CERT-In has highlighted platforms like WhatsApp and Skype as common channels used by scammers for these fraudulent activities.
To counter the threat, the government urges individuals to report such incidents promptly using the cybercrime helpline 1930 or the official portal cybercrime.gov.in. This initiative is part of broader efforts by CERT-In and other agencies to raise awareness and prevent financial losses through such evolving cyber frauds. The advisory comes in response to an increase in reported cases across India, aiming to equip citizens with the knowledge to avoid these traps.
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