Digital house arrest – a new form of cybercrime – involves trapping victims in their homes to defraud them where criminals create fear by making audio or video calls and impersonating law enforcement.
In this digital world, criminals have also found new ways to extort money from innocent individuals. Their new strategy for this is known as ‘Digital House Arrest‘.
In this, the Scammers, pretend to be law enforcement officials such as cops, agents from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), or customs authorities, contact victims, and coerce them into staying confined within their homes. Subsequently, they exploit the victim’s bank accounts. A huge number of similar incidents have been reported recently.
According to a report of the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI), it has been revealed that only in the year 2023, India witnessed bank frauds exceeding Rs 30,000 crore. Over the past decade, Indian banks have reported 65,017 cases of fraud, resulting in a total loss of Rs 4.69 trillion.
What is digital house arrest?
Cybercriminals deploy “digital house arrest,” when they ensnare victims in their homes and exploit them as leverage. By deploying AI-generated voice or video calls to impersonate law enforcement personnel, perpetrators instill fear through the use of audio or video calls.
They coerce victims into transferring money by falsely accusing them of crimes involving their phone number or Aadhaar, inciting fear of impending arrest.
Cybercriminals typically get in touch with potential victims by pretending to be the senders or recipients of packages carrying illicit materials, such as drugs or fake passports. Additionally, they might fabricate information to the target’s friends or family about their involvement in a crime or accident, instilling a sense of urgency.
Cybercriminals use strategies including dressing up as law enforcement officials and erecting fake police stations or government buildings.
Uttar Pradesh Police opened an inquiry into the first known instance of “digital arrest” in December of last year in response to a complaint from a resident of Noida.
The victim was duped, losing more than Rs 11 lakh and going through a “digital arrest” for the entire day. The victim was falsely accused of money laundering by perpetrators who pretended to be police officers, disguising themselves as the founder of a bankrupt airline and an IPS officer from the CBI.
How to avoid a this scam?
If you receive a similar call or message, report it to the authorities. The government has launched a portal to prevent cyber and online fraud. People can also report such an incident on the cybercrime helpline 1930, or at http://www.cybercrime.gov.in.
