This is the First Part of Oneindia News Special Series. In a world where technology is an integral part of our lives, cyber-criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Oneindia explores the alarming rise of digital scams, particularly focusing on the "digital arrest" fraud that has left many unsuspecting victims in turmoil. Learn how to recognise these scams, protect yourself from becoming a target, and stay informed about the tactics used by cybercriminals. Your safety in the digital realm starts with awareness.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Picture this, you get multiple calls, video calls, one after another, with people in crisp
00:12CBI uniforms, confidently asserting that you are involved in a money laundering case.
00:21Why is a CBI officer video calling you?
00:24Confused, right?
00:25Well, this is no cooked up story, but exactly what happened with the chairman of the Vardhaman
00:31Group, SP Oswald.
00:34The call was not from CBI, but from the fraudster posing as CBI officers who went above and
00:41beyond staging an elaborate fake Supreme Court hearing, making him believe he was involved
00:49in a money laundering case.
00:56Under immense pressure and the looming threat of arrest, Oswald unwittingly transferred
01:02a staggering amount of 7 crore in instalment, believing he was safeguarding his future.
01:10It wasn't until two days later that the truth unravelled, revealing the entire scheme
01:16was nothing but a well-orchestrated fraud.
01:19Imagine, receiving a call that chills you to the bone.
01:29One that informs you of a digital arrest.
01:38This nightmare became a reality for Dr. Ruchika Tandon, a professor from Lucknow.
01:44Claiming to be tri-official, scammers convinced her she was involved in an illegal activity,
01:51leading her to transfer 2.81 crore before realising it was a scam.
01:57Now imagine, one fine day your account is suddenly credited with a large sum.
02:02Moments later, a fake bank representative calls you to inform you that a loan has been
02:09sanctioned in your name.
02:11Confused, you insist you never applied for such a loan.
02:15The banker, sounding legitimate, instructs you to return the funds to the correct account.
02:21Trusting their authority, you comply, only to realise weeks later that you have fallen
02:27victim to a loan scam.
02:29Loan scam often involves impersonators providing false information to secure loans, leaving
02:35you responsible for repayment.
02:38It raises critical questions about a bank's verification process.
02:42Who conducted the identity checks?
02:45How was KYC handled?
02:47What about the crucial documentations?
02:51Banks are yet to respond to questions like these in the public domain.
02:56Are banks also involved in the scam?
03:00How do scammers get our bank details?
03:04Are banks doing enough due diligence?
03:08Should banks be held responsible for data leaks?
03:11We live in an era where technology is intertwined with every aspect of our lives.
03:17From work to banking, communication to entertainment, everything is just a click away.
03:23But in this hyper-connected world, there is a lurking danger, cybercrime, which is skyrocketing
03:30at an alarming rate.
03:32Did you know that in financial year 2023 alone, India faced over 30,000 crore in losses due
03:39to cyber fraud?
03:41And this is only the tip of the iceberg.
03:44According to the recent reports, India lost more than 1,750 crore and over 7,40,000 complaints
03:54were reported in the first four months of 2024 alone.
03:59Behind these staggering numbers are the real people, families who have lost their life
04:04savings, professionals duped out of their hard-earned money, and businesses that have
04:11crumbled because of these scams.
04:17Criminals become more sophisticated.
04:19They constantly update their techniques, always staying one step ahead.
04:25What used to be simple phishing email has now evolved into highly coordinated scams
04:31involving fake identities, defaked videos, and real-time impersonations of official organizations.
04:39No one is safe, not the businessman, not the scientist, and not even the ordinary citizen.
04:47As we dive deeper into the world of cybercrime, there is one particularly dangerous scam that
04:53is catching many people off-guard, the so-called digital arrest.
05:01Now what is digital arrest scam and how does it work?
05:05Let me be absolutely clear, there is no such thing as digital arrest.
05:10It is all about psychological manipulation.
05:13The fraudster impersonates a law enforcement officer or government official and claims
05:20that you are involved in serious criminal activity, anything from money laundering to
05:26drug trafficking.
05:27They will tell you there is a warrant for your arrest, but because you are in a different
05:32city or country, they are authorized to arrest you digitally.
05:37The pressure is immediate and intense.
05:40They keep you on edge, often using legal jargon, fake documents, and even video calls to make
05:47their claim seem legitimate.
05:50In some cases we saw earlier, these criminals have gone so far as to stage fake court hearings
05:56just to make the entire scam more convincing.
06:00You may wonder, how do people fall for this?
06:04The truth is that cybercriminals have become incredibly smart and organized.
06:10They study their targets carefully, sometimes gathering personal information from social
06:16media or data breaches.
06:18This means that when they contact you, they may already know things about you, your job,
06:25your family, or even your financial situation.
06:28That makes their threats seem more real.
06:31Another factor is urgency.
06:33The fraudster creates a sense of panic, leaving you with very little time to think clearly.
06:40Under pressure, even highly educated and tech-savvy individuals can make impulsive decisions.
06:48Once you are trapped in their web, they begin to demand money, claiming it will help clear
06:53your name or prevent your arrest.
06:56Remember, this is a purely fabricated setup created by cybercriminals to exploit fear,
07:04confusion, and a lack of understanding.
07:07Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their methods and being aware of the latest scam
07:12is your best defense.
07:16Cybercriminals today are masters of deception.
07:18With access to advanced technology, they can manipulate images, videos, and voices to mimic
07:25real officials.
07:27This ability to create convincing digital personas is one reason why these scams are
07:32so effective.
07:33In fact, some cybercriminals operate like well-oiled corporations, with different teams
07:40specializing in data collection, social engineering, and money laundering.
07:46They use throwaway SIM cards and encrypted communication apps, making them difficult
07:52to trace.
07:54These are not lone wolves.
07:56These are well-organized criminal syndicates, often spread across borders, making it even
08:02harder for law enforcement to take immediate actions.
08:06As we become more dependent on technology, it is critical that we stay vigilant.
08:13Cybercriminals are always adapting, always finding new ways to deceive.
08:17But the more informed we are, the better equipped we will be to protect ourselves.
08:23Remember, awareness is your first line of defense.
08:27Don't let fear or pressure cloud your judgment.
08:30When in doubt, trust your instinct, hang up, and report the incident.
08:35By staying cautious and alert, we can outsmart even the most sophisticated of cybercriminals.
08:42Thank you for staying with us.
08:44Stay safe, stay informed, and most importantly, stay aware.
08:51This is your host Rhea Kumari, and you are watching OneIndia.
08:56Don't miss out.
08:57Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.