Scammers Exploit ‘Digital Arrest’ Tactic to Deceive People in India
"My trust in banks is shattered," Meeta said, her frustration palpable. "I curse the thieves who did this."
Fraudsters in India are increasingly using a tactic known as “digital arrest” to steal money from unsuspecting victims, often leveraging Aadhaar card details to appear credible.
This rising cybercrime involves scammers posing as law enforcement officials and pressuring individuals to transfer significant sums of money.
The situation has escalated to the point where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued public warnings.
One such case involved Kamta Prasad Singh, a retired professor, who lost his hard-earned savings to online fraudsters posing as police officers.
Singh, 62, shared with AFP that the money stolen was all he had saved after years of sacrifice.
“I skipped many things in life to save,” he said tearfully. “Only I know how hard I worked for this money.”
A key element in these scams is India’s Aadhaar system, the world’s largest biometric digital identity program, required for a range of financial transactions.
Scammers often claim they are investigating illegal use of an individual’s Aadhaar details and demand a “temporary” bank transfer to validate the account, ultimately stealing the funds.
In his panic, Singh transferred over $16,100 to “prove” control of his bank account.
“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat… I have lost everything,” he lamented.
Experts say that the success of these scams lies in their believability.
Sushil Kumar, a police officer with years of experience investigating cybercrimes, explained that scammers are often highly knowledgeable about government systems and can make their schemes appear legitimate.
Other victims have faced similar deception. Kaveri, 71, who wished to remain anonymous, fell prey to a scam involving fake US courier company officials.
The fraudsters, who had her Aadhaar ID details, claimed she had sent a package containing illegal items.
“I felt like I was in a tunnel,” Kaveri said, reflecting on the ordeal.
“My trust in banks is shattered,” Meeta said, her frustration palpable. “I curse the thieves who did this.”