NO other cybercrime has generated as many public awareness campaigns as the ‘digital arrest’ scam. Yet consumers continue to fall for this scam by cybercriminals posing as law enforcement officers. What is of utmost concern is that the number of these crimes is going up exponentially and could well translate into over 300 cases per day.

The number of digital arrest scams and related cybercrimes reported in the country in 2022 was 39,925. This number tripled in 2024 with 1,23,672 cases. The financial loss to the victims also rose from Rs 91.14 crore to Rs 1,935.51 crore. This year, in just the first two months, 17,718 cases were reported, with an estimated loss of Rs 210.21 crore.

Worse, the ‘digital arrests’ are now becoming even more sinister and reprehensible. For example, the criminal

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