Why in News ?
- What happened: Supreme Court (SC) took suo motu cognisance of rising digital arrest scams.
- Trigger: A septuagenarian couple from Ambala, Haryana, lost ₹1.5 crore to conmen impersonating CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and judicial officers.
- SC’s stance: Described it as a matter of “grave concern”; emphasized coordinated national action.
- Entities involved for response: Union Government, Haryana Government, and CBI.
Relevance:
- GS-2: Governance – Cybercrime management, Inter-agency coordination, Supreme Court suo motu interventions.
- GS-3: Science & Technology – Cyber fraud trends, Digital financial crimes, Use of technology in scams.
- GS-4: Ethics – Public awareness, Protection of vulnerable citizens, Responsibility of institutions.
Understanding Digital Arrest Scams
- Definition: Cyber frauds where criminals impersonate law enforcement, judiciary, or government officials.
- Modus Operandi:
- Sending fake court orders, warrants, or summons digitally (email, WhatsApp, SMS).
- Threatening immediate arrest or legal action to extort money.
- Using forged documents from multiple judicial or investigative agencies to increase authenticity.
- Victims targeted: Often elderly or less tech-savvy individuals.
- Financial impact: Losses can range from lakhs to crores of rupees per victim.
Scope and Magnitude
- Nationwide concern: SC noted this is not a solitary instance; reported across multiple states.
- Digital crime trends in India:
- Cybercrime complaints reported to National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP): ~ 5.5 lakh in 2024 (all categories).
- Financial frauds and impersonation cases are growing at ~20–25% per year.
- Elderly and urban professionals are high-risk targets due to perceived wealth.
- Technology exploitation: Fraudsters increasingly use deepfakes, official seals, and realistic document templates.
Legal & Institutional Framework
- Existing laws applicable:
- IPC Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 – cheating, forgery, and fraud.
- Information Technology Act 2000 – cyber fraud, identity theft, digital impersonation.
- Investigating agencies:
- CBI: Handles large-scale interstate scams.
- State Cyber Cells: Investigate local digital frauds.
- Enforcement Directorate: Investigates if money laundering or cross-border transfer involved.
- Challenges:
- Jurisdictional issues across states.
- Difficulty in tracking digital transactions and fraudsters.
- Lack of awareness among victims.
Supreme Court’s Observations & Implications
- Key observations:
- Fabrication of multiple judicial documents to dupe victims.
- Fraud is a well-organized criminal enterprise, not isolated incidents.
- Calls for pan-India stern action to uncover and prevent such scams.
- Implications:
- Likely directives to Union & State Governments to issue public advisories.
- Possible strengthening of cybercrime cells and coordination between central and state agencies.
- Courts may consider fast-tracking cybercrime cases.
Preventive & Citizen Measures
- Awareness campaigns: Government advisories on digital impersonation scams.
- Verification: Always verify court notices with official portals or through local police.
- Reporting: Register complaints via NCRP, local police, or CBI helplines.
- Technology safeguards: Use official apps and secure banking channels, avoid sharing OTPs or banking credentials.
Data / Facts to Highlight
- ₹1.5 crore lost by the Ambala couple – SC cited as illustrative case.
- Cybercrime complaints in India: ~5.5 lakh in 2024 (uptrend).
- Financial frauds growing 20–25% per year.
- Elderly victims increasingly targeted.
