A surge in complaints has been reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) concerning incidents of intimidation, blackmail, extortion, and “Digital Arrests” executed by cyber criminals impersonating Police Authorities, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Enforcement Directorate, and other law enforcement agencies.
These fraudsters typically contact potential victims, alleging involvement in illegal activities. Common tactics include informing the victim of a parcel containing illegal goods, drugs, or fake passports allegedly linked to them, or claiming a loved one has been implicated in a crime or accident and is in custody. The criminals then demand money to “settle” the case. In some instances, victims are coerced into undergoing a “Digital Arrest,” where they are kept visually available over Skype or other video conferencing platforms until their demands are met. To appear authentic, the fraudsters use studios designed to look like police stations and government offices and don uniforms.
Numerous victims across the country have lost significant sums of money to these sophisticated scams, which are believed to be operated by cross-border crime syndicates.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is spearheading efforts to combat these cyber crimes. In collaboration with other ministries, agencies, RBI, and various organizations, the I4C is providing technical support to State/UT police authorities for identifying and investigating these cases.
I4C has successfully blocked over 1,000 Skype IDs involved in such fraudulent activities in partnership with Microsoft. Additionally, it is facilitating the blocking of SIM cards, mobile devices, and mule accounts used by these criminals. Through its social media platform ‘Cyberdost’ on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and others, I4C has issued several alerts and educational materials to raise awareness.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged citizens to remain vigilant and inform others about these types of frauds. Upon receiving such suspicious calls, individuals should report the incident immediately via the cybercrime helpline number 1930 or visit www.cybercrime.gov.in for assistance.
