123 Kolkata: Last month, Kolkata Police admitted that the digital arrest fraud was becoming their biggest challenge. In the past 27 days, cops have received 49 complaints related to digital arrests, 18 of which involved the victims paying the fraudsters.
Nine cases were reported in the south division cyber cell alone. In eight of these cases, the victims ended up paying the fraudsters. The police have, overall, identified at least two dozen Skype IDs that were used to carry out the fraud. From June this year, the Kolkata Police has received 320 such complaints.
May and June saw 49 and 52 complaints, respectively. The police launched a massive campaign and managed to reduce the numbers to 37 and 39 in July and Aug. However, the criminals began improvising, and Sept and Oct saw as many as 60 and 54 complaints, according to police sources. Between Sept and Nov, 163 cases were reported, with the increase considered "normal" during the festival season.
On Thursday, the central govt issued a warning about a widespread cyber scam targeting individuals across India. The scam involves fraudulent letters threatening recipients with "digital arrest" unless they comply with the scammers' demands. PIB Fact Check unit, which helps in dispelling myths, rumours, and false claims, posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), confirming that it is a fake message and asked users not to believe it. These letters are designed to appear official, often mimicking the letterheads and logos of govt agencies, like the cyber crime cell or the income tax department.
"Digital arrest frauds began last year when threat calls on behalf of central agencies reached potential victims. This included fake calls on behalf of CBI, NCB, or NIA. It also included fake calls from Delhi and Mumbai Police. But it turned sinister from early this year as the modus operandi changed — from threatening the arrest of victims' children studying outside the city to sending recorded IVRS calls and using fake court orders," explained an officer.