Digital Arrest-One click can cost you everything
As the age old saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”. The past year proved it just right with Indians losing over 1.2 million in digital arrest frauds according to a report by the NCRB (National Crime Investigation Bureau).
In the era of tech the scammers too have adapted to the changing methodologies of committing fraud. Hassle free online transactions, anonymous caller ids, easily created phishing websites are some accessible tactics used to lure the innocent into money extortion. Cybercriminals can leverage AI, machine learning, and other sophisticated technologies analyze large amounts of data to identify vulnerable targets. As of 2024, cybercriminals create nearly 1 million phishing sites per month – that's almost 7x as many as in 2020.
The threat of digital scams is serious enough to be addressed by the Prime Minister himself during his “Mann Ki baat”.
Prevalent Patters of Crime: The Modus Operandi
Should you start suspecting every anonymous call and email that you receive? That would be tiring and mentally exhausting.
Here are some characteristic ways in which these frauds unfold. You can identify some common patterns and look out for them.
Scam Formula 1- You sent an illegal parcel
A prevalent tactic these days is to scare the victim that he or she has been caught sending an illegal parcel with contents like drugs or weapons and would be arrested by the government for the same. Following this the individual receives a video call from a uniform bearing police officer threatening to arrest the victim. Innocent people fear being arrested and then they are extorted and blackmailed for money worth thousands even lakhs to let go. They are also asked to be on a constant visual surveillance on skype or other platforms which causes additional mental toll. This occurred recently with beauty influencer Ankush Bahuguna, who was subject to 40 hours of Digital arrest.
Scam Formula 2 – Save your loved ones
In 2024, there were over 10,000 cases of such attempted scams. Parents often received an audio or a video call with person on the other side claiming to be a police officer. This alleged officer informs you that your kid has been arrested for some serious offense and you must send money to get him or her bailed. They may threaten to physically torture your child upon not receiving the money. The argument sounds convincing because the scammer would mention the correct name and details of your child. Since no parent would want to let go of their child, laundering money becomes smooth like a glide on butter.
In March 2024, Kaveri shared on X that she received a call from a fake police officer trying to convince her that her daughter was in trouble and made a scheme to extort money. Kaveri said the scammers accurately replicated her daughter's name and voice, hinting at the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to clone voices. (NDTV).
Scam Formula 3- Did you harass someone?
An investigative journalist from Gujarat posted a series of videos on X (formerly known as Twitter) to warn the people about digital scams. Gamers received a WhatsApp call from scammers informing him that his phone number is being misused. “First I received a call from an unknown number informing me that my mobile numbers would be blocked in the next four hours as they were being used for harassment and financial fraud. Scammers make this call in the name of Telecom Regularity of India (TRAI),” posted Gamers.
On 5th January the Economics Times shared a report about a marketing consultant being swindled off for 6 crores on charges of harassment calls to others from her mobile number. She lost a lifetime of savings and could only receive 60 lakhs as a compensation amount after reporting the matter to authorities.
Scam Formula 4: Want to earn easy money ?
Scammers often promise substantial sums of money for completing simple tasks, such as liking YouTube videos or social media posts. After completing these tasks, the victim is pressured to invest in crypto currencies or other assets with the promise of high returns. To appear legitimate, a small amount may be credited to the victim's account. However, once the victim invests a significant sum, the scammers disappear with the money. Remember, "Schemes offering easy money are scams. Don't be deceived by them."
Scam Formula 5: Deepfakes are scary !
Deepfakes are edits done using AI to images, audios and videos that almost appear real. These edited images and videos are used to blackmail or extort money from people. India saw more than 20,000 cases in 2024 about deepfake scams. They may try to extort money from your family by claiming that you are in danger and need help. Be cautious enough to verify from your family or friends before doing any monetary transaction on their name.
Security isn’t something you buy, it’s something you do
Vigilance and Attention – Check the number’s country code and caller id and refrain from responding if the number appears to be suspicious. Verify the caller id for messages received from unknown numbers, especially if they seek any private details from you.
Secure your documents and passwords- Do not handout your credit card, Aadhar card and passport details to untrustworthy sources. Scammers often steal your personal information from these documents and formulate a message to appear legitimate.
Use security software- Ensure your devices have up-to-date security software to protect against phishing attempts and malware that scammers might use to gain access to your information. Do not connect to unauthorized public networks.
Seek Support- Make sure to seek support and advice from your loved ones and community in these situations. Keep people informed about your decisions and do not isolate yourself out of fear or apprehensions.
Two-factor authentication (2FA)- Enable 2FA on your accounts to add a layer of security if scammers try to access them.
Help lines- The cyber helpline is a free and 24/7 available helpline that provides expert help to the victims of cybercrime and online harm.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal maintains a database of know scammers which you can search using UPI ID, mobile number, email ID, social media IDs, etc. "The Central Government has introduced a new feature titled as ‘Report and Check Suspect’ on Cyber Crime Portal.
Quick Action- If you receive any such call or text where the person is claiming to be from the police or customs department then immediately share the details to your nearest police station or cyber crime cell. Do not make any monetary transaction before informing the authorities or rechecking the details.
Most importantly, do not get terrified. Your presence of mind is your biggest support. Try to engage the scammers and record the conversation to alert the authorities with proof.
British telecom company Virgin Media O2 has introduced Daisy, a custom-made human-like chatbot that answers calls in real time, keeping fraudsters on the phone as long as possible in a bid to annoy and frustrate them, just as they do to consumers worldwide. This is an attempt to publicly expose their ways, gather information useful to law enforcement and even confuse the con artists’ devices.
Can scammers commit a Perfect Crime?
Even though these seasoned fraudsters come up with a perfect predatory plan to commit a fraud, it is also due to technical advancements that they get exposed.
In a recent example, the scammer, who had been running a fraud scheme, made a crucial mistake while attempting to carry out his scam. Unknowingly, he video-called a Thrissur Police officer from the Cyber Cell, thinking he was speaking to a potential victim. The police officer too left no chance to provoke the scammer into reconsidering his life choices in a funny yet sarcastic interaction.
Scammers capitalize on our desire to get more, be it money or opportunities. To avoid situations of trouble, we easily comply with their instructions because it is easy to make a person submissive by scaring them. Do not be fooled by the schemes that seem too good to be true. As they easily allure us with claims of high paying jobs and cash prizes.
Although these scams are prevalent and successful in deceiving most victims. They are not experts. If we choose to maintain our calm and think logically before taking a decision out of fear, they posses least harm. Hence, the scammers may attempt, but you can escape them with your intellect and awareness.
Let us know if you ever came across any such call or message that seemed fishy and how did you escape it.
-Chandrani and Rijul
