Digital arrest scam: Center forms high-level committee to probe cases and take immediate action

The Union Home Ministry has formed a high-level committee to investigate cases of digital arrest fraud and cyber fraud. The committee was directed to take immediate action against the perpetrators.

According to some sources, the commission will be monitored by the Secretary of Internal Security of the Ministry of the Interior.

The ministry’s Cyber ​​Crime Coordination Centre, also known as 14C, has contacted police in all states and union territories to inform them about the committee.

Over 6,000 digital arrest complaints have been registered so far this year, with 14C blocking 6 lakh mobile numbers in connection with the scam, which targets unsuspecting individuals by falsely implicating them in drug and money laundering cases.

The Cyber ​​Crime Coordination Center has also blocked at least 709 mobile apps.

The sources said authorities have ordered the freezing of 3.25 million fake bank accounts linked to cyber fraud.

Following a sudden increase in the number of digital arrest cases across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also warned people against such scams, noting that they hit all sections of the society.

In his radio show ‘Mann ki Baat’ on Sunday, he asked people to “stop, think and take action” when faced with such a scam.

The Prime Minister pointed out that there is nothing called “digital arrest” in the law.

WHAT IS DIGITAL ARREST

Digital arrest is a new method of cyber fraud where fraudsters pose as law enforcement officers and threaten people through audio or video calls and hold them digitally hostage under the false pretext of arrest.

Earlier this week, the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) shared a list that talks about more than a dozen ways in which online scams are perpetrated by fraudsters in the country, including “digital arrest” to dupe people by theft. their money and private data.

(With inputs from PTI)