TL;DR: A digital arrest scam is when fraudsters impersonate police, CBI, customs, or narcotics officials on a video or phone call, falsely claiming the victim is linked to an illegal parcel or a criminal case, and pressure them to pay money or stay on camera under "digital house arrest" to avoid arrest. Real police, CBI, or customs officials never conduct investigations, arrests, or "verifications" over a video call, and never ask for money to close a case. Hang up immediately, do not share any personal or banking details, and report the call to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930).
A digital arrest scam is when fraudsters impersonate police, CBI, customs, or narcotics officials on a video or phone call, falsely claiming the victim is linked to an illegal parcel or a criminal case, and pressure them to pay money or stay on camera under "digital house arrest" to avoid arrest.
How Digital Arrest Scams Works
The scam typically starts with a call or message claiming a courier addressed to the victim contains drugs, fake passports, or other illegal items. The caller, often in a fake uniform on a video call staged to look like a police station, says the victim is under investigation and must not disconnect or contact anyone. Victims are told to transfer money to a "RBI verification account" or stay visible on camera for hours while their bank accounts are drained.
Warning Signs to Watch For
A call claiming a parcel in your name was intercepted with illegal contents, pressure to stay on video call continuously and not hang up or tell family, threats of immediate arrest, and any request to transfer money to "verify" your identity or clear your name.
How to Protect Yourself
Real police, CBI, or customs officials never conduct investigations, arrests, or "verifications" over a video call, and never ask for money to close a case. Hang up immediately, do not share any personal or banking details, and report the call to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930).
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading What Is Fake Electricity Bill Scams? How It Works and How to Protect Yourself.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see What Is Fake Trading App Scams? How It Works and How to Protect Yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Digital Arrest Scams?
A digital arrest scam is when fraudsters impersonate police, CBI, customs, or narcotics officials on a video or phone call, falsely claiming the victim is linked to an illegal parcel or a criminal case, and pressure them to pay money or stay on camera under "digital house arrest" to avoid arrest.
How does Digital Arrest Scams typically work?
The scam typically starts with a call or message claiming a courier addressed to the victim contains drugs, fake passports, or other illegal items. The caller, often in a fake uniform on a video call staged to look like a police station, says the victim is under investigation and must not disconnect or contact anyone. Victims are told to transfer money to a "RBI verification account" or stay visible on camera for hours while their bank accounts are drained.
What are the warning signs of Digital Arrest Scams?
A call claiming a parcel in your name was intercepted with illegal contents, pressure to stay on video call continuously and not hang up or tell family, threats of immediate arrest, and any request to transfer money to "verify" your identity or clear your name.
How can I protect myself from Digital Arrest Scams?
Real police, CBI, or customs officials never conduct investigations, arrests, or "verifications" over a video call, and never ask for money to close a case. Hang up immediately, do not share any personal or banking details, and report the call to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930).
What should I do if I think I’ve encountered Digital Arrest Scams?
Stop responding immediately, do not click any links or share information, and report it to the appropriate authority. If money or personal information was already shared, act quickly to secure your accounts and report the incident.