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Digital arrest by fake police, CBI, ED or customs officers

Fake officers keep you on a video call for hours, claim you are under "digital arrest", and make you transfer savings for "verification".

Community reports: 0 · Checks that matched it in the last 30 days: 3

How it works

A call, often after a courier or telecom story, connects you to people in uniform on a video call from what looks like a police station or court.
They say you are under "digital arrest", forbid you to tell anyone, and keep you on camera for hours or days.
You are made to transfer savings, fixed deposits or a loan amount to a "safe account" for verification, with a promise to return it.

What it looks like

Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.

You are under digital arrest. Do not disconnect this call or tell your family. Any violation will lead to immediate physical arrest.

Transfer your fixed deposit to the RBI verification account. It will be returned within 24 hours after the investigation.

Red flags

"Digital arrest" does not exist in Indian law
Uniforms, logos and court rooms on a video call
Orders to stay on camera and tell no one
Money moved to a "verification" or "safe" account

The one question to ask

Would real police ever arrest you on a video call and ask for your savings?

Already paid or shared details?

Disconnect the call and tell a family member at once. Call 1930 immediately: transfers made in the last hours can often be frozen. Then call your bank on the number on your card, and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with the numbers, account details and screenshots.

1930 · cybercrime.gov.in

Also seen as

Fake CBI or ED notices on WhatsApp
Fake Supreme Court or RBI letters
Fake TRAI officers linking your SIM to a crime

What people are saying

ScamBhai desk2026-10-25Digital arrest by fake police, CBI, ED or customs officers

A 75-year-old woman in Mangaluru lost ₹2 crore after a call in September 2026 from a man who said he was a Mumbai police officer. He told her she was linked to money laundering, drug dealing and child trafficking. A supposed CBI officer then came on a WhatsApp video call and said she was bound by a "National Secrecy Act" of the Supreme Court, was being watched, and must tell no one.

She was…

From the ScamBhai desk, based on a news report: Deccan Chronicle, 8 Oct 2026 · Source

#DigitalArrest #SeniorCitizens

Replies: 0

ScamBhai desk2026-10-25Digital arrest by fake police, CBI, ED or customs officers

A retired employee in Hyderabad lost ₹59 lakh in three days in December 2025. Callers posing as police and government officials reached him on WhatsApp, accused him of human trafficking, job fraud and money laundering, and sent him forged arrest warrants. Under constant threat of arrest, he moved the money by RTGS to several accounts.

Police said the gang had also used malicious app files to get…

From the ScamBhai desk, based on a news report: The News Minute, 20 Dec 2025 · Source

#DigitalArrest

Replies: 0

ScamBhai desk2026-10-25Digital arrest by fake police, CBI, ED or customs officers

How a "digital arrest" usually goes. A retired engineer gets a call from someone who says a parcel in his name was stopped at customs. Within minutes the call is "transferred" to a man in police uniform on a video call, with an office and flags behind him. He says the engineer's Aadhaar is linked to a money laundering case and that he is now under digital arrest: he must stay on camera, tell no…

From the ScamBhai desk: a composite of common reports, not one person's story

#DigitalArrest

Replies: 0

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