Hyderabad Police alert citizens to new ‘Digital Arrest’ scam

The Hyderabad Cybercrime Unit has warned citizens about ‘Digital Arrest’ scams, where fraudsters pose as officials and threaten arrest using fake documents. Police advised the public not to share banking details and to report such cases immediately

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cybercrime Unit has issued an advisory alerting citizens about the growing menace of ‘Digital Arrest’ frauds. Scammers posing as police officers, government officials, or courier agents are duping people by threatening arrest or legal action in fabricated cases of money laundering, drug trafficking, or terrorism.

According to the police, fraudsters use caller ID spoofing, WhatsApp video calls, and forged documents such as fake FIRs, arrest warrants, and RBI letters to intimidate victims.

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“They coerce individuals into transferring money under the pretext of ‘verification’ or for securing a ‘No Involvement Certificate’,” officials said.

Cybercrime officials have advised citizens not to panic or share personal or banking details, as no law enforcement agency conducts arrests digitally or demands money to clear names.

They urged people to immediately disconnect such calls, preserve evidence, and report incidents to the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.