MHA Leads Nationwide Offensive Against Digital Arrest Cyber Fraud Networks | भारत में वरिष्ठ नागरिकों को निशाना बनाने वाले डिजिटल अरेस्ट स्कैम पर एमएचए का शिकंजा

भारतीय गृह मंत्रालय ने वरिष्ठ नागरिकों को ठगने के लिए पुलिस और सरकारी निकायों का प्रतिरूपण करने वाले डिजिटल अरेस्ट स्कैम के खिलाफ देशव्यापी कार्रवाई तेज कर दी है। हाल के मामलों में ग्वालियर में 1.12 करोड़ रुपये का नुकसान और दक्षिण दिल्ली में लगभग 15 करोड़ रुपये का फंड निकाला गया। अधिकारियों ने सत्यापन और तत्काल रिपोर्टिंग का आग्रह किया है।

India

-Oneindia Staff

Published: Monday, February 2, 2026, 18:32 [IST]

The
Ministry
of
Home
Affairs
has
intensified
its
nationwide
crackdown
oncyber
fraud
networks
after
a
sharp
rise
in
so-called
“digital
arrest” scamsthat
have
trapped
senior
citizens
across
major
Indian
cities,
leading
tomassive
financial
losses
running
into
crores.

According
to
officials,
fraudsters
are
impersonating
agencies
such
as
theDelhi
Police,
CBI
and
TRAI,
using
video
calls,
fake
uniforms
andofficial-looking
backgrounds
to
create
fear
and
force
victims
intoisolation.
This
is
followed
by
coercing
victims
into
transferring
theirhard-earned
money
to
accounts
controlled
by
the
fraudsters’
network,
whilefalsely
claiming
that
the
accounts
belong
to
the
RBI
or
some
otherlegitimate
agency.
The
MHA
has
directed
state
police
and
cybercrime
units
totreat
digital
arrest
cases
as
organised
financial
crimes
and
to
accelerateinvestigations
and
money-tracing
efforts.

One
such
case
was
reported
from
Gwalior,
where
a
75-year-old
retiredgovernment
officer
was
kept
under
a
fake
digital
arrest
for
nearly
a
monthand
cheated
of
Rs
1.12
crore.
The
victim
was
initially
warned
that
hisAadhaar-linked
mobile
number
would
be
blocked
and
was
later
told
he
wasunder
investigation
for
money
laundering.
Posing
as
senior
police
and
CBIofficials,
the
fraudsters
convinced
him
to
liquidate
mutual
fund
investmentsand
transfer
funds
for
so-called
verification.

A
similar
but
larger
case
emerged
from
south
Delhi,
where
an
elderly
doctorcouple
was
allegedly
confined
to
their
home
for
over
two
weeks
and
forced
totransfer
close
to
Rs
15
crore.
The
fraudsters,
posing
as
TRAI
and
policeofficials,
claimed
the
couple
was
linked
to
black
money
transactions
andused
repeated
video
calls,
legal
threats
and
fake
documents
to
maintainpressure
until
the
fraud
was
uncovered
at
a
local
police
station.

The
MHA
has
warned
that
no
law
enforcement
agency
interrogates
citizensthrough
phone
call
or
video
call
or
seeks
money-transfers
for
investigationpurposes.
Officials
stressed
that
government
agencies
do
not
conductinquiries
through
WhatsApp
or
demand
financial
verification
through
RTGS
orsimilar
channels.
I4C-MHA
has
also
directed
banks
to
Check
remain
vigilantand
ensure
that,
particularly
in
the
case
of
senior
citizens,
any
large
RTGStransfers
from
savings
accounts
are
made
only
after
proper
verification.

Citizens
have
been
urged
to
verify
any
such
calls
with
local
police,
avoidsharing
personal
or
banking
details,
and
immediately
report
suspiciouscommunication
to
the
national
cybercrime
“and
Report
suspect” section
onwww.cybercrime.gov.in.
The
Home
Ministry
said
enhanced
coordination
withbanks,
telecom
firms
and
cybercrime
units
is
underway
to
dismantle
thesefraud
networks
and
prevent
further
cases.