PM Narendra Modi said about ‘digital arrest’
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned the public on Sunday about the ‘digital arrest’ fraud, emphasizing that no government agency threatens individuals over the phone or demands money. In the 115th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ he detailed how scammers operate, using this deceptive method to exploit unsuspecting victims. Modi urged citizens to remain vigilant and informed to protect themselves from such fraudulent schemes.
, “…Under digital arrest fraud, callers portray themselves as police, CBI, RBI or narcotics officials, and they confidently talk. People asked me to talk about this in Mann Ki Baat. You need to understand this. The first step is your personal information. They collect all your personal information. 2nd Step is the atmosphere of fear. They will scare you so much that you won’t even be able to think. Step 3- The time pressure…Victims of digital arrest are from all sections and ages. Many people have lost lakhs of their hard-earned money. If you ever get a call like this, don’t be afraid. You should know that no investigating agency does such an interrogation over the phone or video call,” PM Modi said in the radio show.
“There are 3 steps of digital security- stop, think, and take action. If possible, take a screenshot and do the recording. No government agencies give such threats over the phone nor do they demand money,” he added, reported ANI.
Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to call the national cyber helpline at 1930 and report cybercrime incidents to the police. Recently, digital arrests have become a significant issue in India. For instance, Vardhman Group chairman SP Oswal was tricked into transferring ₹7 crore to cybercriminals who impersonated CBI officials and monitored him via Skype for two days, claiming he was involved in a money-laundering investigation. The fraudsters even staged a fake Supreme Court hearing, impersonating Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, to further their deceit.
