There is no such thing as a digital arrest

“You are under digital arrest. Stay on video. Don't tell anyone.” Every line of that script is a tell, and none of it is how Indian law enforcement works.

How the script runs

It usually starts with a call about a parcel, a SIM card or a bank account linked to a crime. The caller transfers the victim to someone presenting as police, a central agency or customs, on a video call with a uniform, an office backdrop and official-looking documents.

The victim is told they are under “digital arrest”, must stay on camera, must not tell family, and must move money to a “verification” or “safe” account to clear their name. Calls can run for hours or days.

Why it keeps working

Authority borrowed from real agencies, with real-looking names and seals.Fear of arrest, of a case against a child, of public shame.Isolation. “Don't tell anyone” is not procedure. It removes the second opinion that would end the fraud in a minute.Time pressure that leaves no room to check anything.

The uniform is a prop. The isolation is the attack.

The official position

In October 2024 the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued a public advisory stating that the CBI, police, customs, ED and judges do not arrest anyone on a video call, and asked people to report such calls to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

What to do during the call

Hang up. Do not stay on video, share your screen or install any app the caller asks for.Verify independently. Call the agency on a number you look up yourself, never one the caller gives you.Tell someone. One family member hearing the story usually ends it.Never transfer money to “verify” an account or “clear your name”. No agency asks for this.

How to report it

If money has moved, call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in at once and inform your bank; the sooner a report is made, the better the chance of the money being held.

Report the number even if you lost nothing. Chakshu, a facility on the Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi portal, takes reports of suspected fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages. In February 2026 the government told the Rajya Sabha that 39.43 lakh mobile connections had been disconnected after analysis of citizen reports.

For organisations

Finance teams, senior staff and employees' families are all targets. A two-line rule in onboarding and awareness sessions, that no agency arrests anyone over video and no payment ever clears a case, does more than any tool.

Questions people ask

Is digital arrest legal in India? No. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has publicly stated that the CBI, police, customs, ED and judges do not arrest anyone on a video call. A 'digital arrest' is a fraud.

Where do I report a digital arrest call? Call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Suspected fraud calls and messages can also be reported through Chakshu on the Sanchar Saathi portal, even if no money was lost.

What is Chakshu? Chakshu is a facility on the Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi portal for reporting suspected fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages. It is meant for suspected fraud communication; frauds that have already happened go to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

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