In a typical case the caller says a parcel in your name has drugs, or your Aadhaar or SIM was used in a crime. The call is passed to a person in uniform on video, who says you are under “digital arrest” and must stay on camera and not tell anyone. You are then told to transfer money for “verification”. Government agencies, including the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), have warned the public about this pattern. This guide is general information, not advice on your case.
Signs it is a scam
- The call or video comes from an unknown number, often with a police-station or government background.
- You are told you are “under digital arrest” and must stay on the call.
- You are told not to speak to family, a lawyer or the bank.
- You are asked to transfer money to a “safe”, “RBI” or “verification” account.
- You are sent official-looking letters, notices or ID cards on WhatsApp.
- There is urgency: “do it now or you will be arrested in an hour”.
How real legal process works
- Arrest and summons are done by police in person or through written notices served in a recognised way, not by a video call that keeps you “in custody”.
- An investigating agency does not ask a person to deposit money into a private account to clear their name.
- You have the right to speak to a lawyer and to your family.
If you are genuinely unsure, hang up and contact the police station or agency using a number you find yourself from an official source, not one the caller gave you.
What to do if you are on the call
- Disconnect. You are not required to stay.
- Do not send money, share OTPs, or install any app the caller asks you to.
- Take screenshots of the number, the messages and any “documents” sent.
- Tell someone in your family.
If you already sent money
- Call 1930 immediately and give the transaction details. The earlier the report, the better the chance of holding the money.
- Inform your bank in writing with the transaction reference.
- File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in under financial fraud and upload your evidence. Keep the acknowledgement number.
- Lodge a police complaint at the nearest cyber police station if you can. See police not registering an FIR if it is refused.
The full step-by-step process, including bank rules on reporting delay, is in what to do after a UPI fraud.
Law that applies
Depending on the facts, offences such as cheating (Section 318, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023), cheating by personation (Section 319), and impersonating a public servant, along with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, may be applied. The police and the court decide the final sections.
If your account was frozen later
Victims sometimes find the account that received their money frozen, or their own account frozen because of a transfer. See bank account frozen after a cyber complaint.
Common questions
Can the police really put me under digital arrest?
No. There is no such provision. Arrest follows the procedure in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and involves a physical arrest with the rights that come with it.
The caller knew my Aadhaar and address. Is it real?
Not necessarily. Fraudsters buy or leak personal data. Knowing your details does not make the caller genuine.
Will I get my money back?
Sometimes, if reported quickly. There is no guarantee, so report within the first hours.
Sources
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and helpline 1930, Ministry of Home Affairs
- Advisories of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) on digital arrest scams
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 318 and 319; Information Technology Act, 2000, Sections 66C and 66D
Related: deepfake and AI scams · hacked social media account
This guide is general information and does not replace advice on your own situation.