What Is Digital Arrest And How To Avoid Getting Trapped

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Digital arrest refers to a scam in which fraudsters pretend to be law enforcement officers and deceive victims into believing they have committed some crime

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The offenders use an elaborate tech trap with fake IDs and phone numbers to try and dupe their victim

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The victims are driven to believe that their bank account, SIM card, Aadhaar card, or other cards linked to their bank account have been used unlawfully

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When the victims appear to take the bait, the fraudsters say they will be arrested if they leave their house and coerce them into paying money

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In some cases, the victims are "digitally arrested", and forced to stay visible over Skype or other video conferencing platforms until demands are met

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The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has blocked more than 1,000 Skype IDs linked to such activities

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I4C has been providing inputs and technical support to police forces of states/ UTs to identify and investigate cases

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I4C has also posted infographics and videos on its social media platform Cyberdost, and on its handles on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram to increase awareness

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People who receive such calls should immediately report the incident on the cybercrime helpline 1930, or at http://www.cybercrime.gov.in

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Cops say people who receive such calls should also file a complaint and inform the local police

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