As cybercrime continues to evolve, “digital arrest” scams are becoming an alarming trend, with scammers increasingly targeting unsuspecting victims by impersonating law enforcement officers. These scams, which often involve fraudsters claiming to be from agencies like the CBI or Enforcement Directorate, use intimidation tactics to extort money and information from their targets. The latest case to highlight this growing menace involves Inspector Feesto TD from Thrissur’s cyber cell.
Two weeks ago, Feesto received an unexpected phone call on his official number. The caller, who identified himself as a policeman from Maharashtra’s cyber cell, claimed that Feesto was under “digital arrest” for alleged links to human trafficking and drug smuggling activities. The scammer’s attempt to deceive Feesto lasted for 45 minutes, until the fraudster realised he was speaking to a police officer.
Feesto, who was on duty at the time, received an automated message asking him to press 9, which transferred him to the caller. “(I thought) if I reveal my identity, they’ll hang up. So, I followed the instructions and the call got transferred,” he told The Indian Express.
The scammer, speaking fluent English, told Feesto that his Aadhaar details had been found on the dark web and were linked to criminal activities. “He said all my details with him. I pleaded innocence and feigned ignorance about the dark web,” Feesto said, IE reported.
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The caller then escalated the situation, threatening Feesto with a “digital arrest” and warning him that his phone and activities were being monitored. Feesto, maintaining a calm demeanor, played along.
The fraudster then requested a video call, which Feesto used as an opportunity to record the scammer’s image. When he revealed his identity as a police officer, the caller immediately disconnected the call.
Thrissur police are now investigating the case, though Feesto believes tracking down the fraudster will be challenging. “If there had been a financial transaction, tracking down such fraudsters would have been easier. In this case, there is only a call and we don’t exactly know where it came from,” he explained.
This incident underscores the increasing prevalence of digital scams in India. As cybercriminals continue to target individuals with increasingly sophisticated tactics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his October ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, cautioned the public about such frauds. Citizens are urged to stay vigilant and informed to protect themselves from falling victim to these digital threats.