How to Spot a Digital Arrest Scam: Tech Signs You Should Not Ignore

Digital scams are getting smarter. Are you?

These days, you must be hearing about this new type of fraud happening online, the “digital arrest” scam. It’s all over the news, how people are losing lakhs of rupees. Some fake police or government guy calls you up and says you have done something wrong. The way they do it is to scare you and confuse you. They pretend to be from the police, the cybercrime people, or some court office. They will say there’s an ongoing investigation on your name, so they are arresting you on the phone. They will also ask you not to tell anyone and to stay in isolation. Then, they ask you to transfer money to settle the case.

Take this one case, an old professor in Bangalore. He lost all his savings because these scammers told him his Aadhaar card was being used for bad things. They kept him on the phone for hours, didn’t let him talk to anyone, and made him transfer all his money to “verify” his accounts. Another old lady, 71 years old, got fake letters from the bank and CBI saying she had to send money for some “temporary investigation.” Even a big businessman got fooled! They made a fake online court hearing, even had someone pretending to be the Chief Justice, and he ended up losing almost 7 crore rupees. You can see how clever and different these scams can be.

Now, the government and the banks here are trying to do something about this. The government made a big team called the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). They are like the main people fighting cybercrime in the whole country. They help everyone work together and tell people how to stay safe. They also have this website, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in/), where you can complain if something happens. And they have a phone number, 1930, you can call for help right away. The government is also trying to tell people about these scams through SMS, social media (like their Cyber Dost thing), and ads.

They are also working with the phone companies to stop those fake international calls that show up as Indian numbers. These scammers often use these kinds of calls. They’ve blocked many SIM cards and phone identification numbers that the police found were used for scams.

Banks are trying to teach their customers about online fraud. They keep telling people not to share their OTPs, CVV numbers, or bank details on the phone. Sometimes, if the bank sees a big, strange transaction happening, they will call the customer to check if it’s really them. Like that time, a bank manager stopped a teacher from sending 20 lakh rupees to scammers.

Even with all this happening, these digital arrest scams keep changing, and cyber criminals come up with new ways to cheat people. So, it’s really important for all of us to be careful. To protect yourself, it is important to understand the technical red flags that give these scams away. In this detailed guide, I will explain the red flags you need to know and shouldn’t ignore.

Let us break them down in simple terms.

1. Suspicious Caller ID and VoIP Indicators

Scammers do not call from regular phone numbers. They use internet-based calling services like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to hide their real location.

When you receive a call, check the number carefully. If it starts with:

• +92, +1, or any other foreign country code, be alert.
• A number like 140XXXXXXX, it could be a telemarketing or fake number.
• A name like “Private Number,” “Unknown,” or “VoIP Call,” be extra careful.

These scammers may say they are calling from the police, cybercrime, or some government department. But no real police officer calls using an internet number or hides their number like this. Some apps like Truecaller can sometimes tell you if it is a VoIP (internet-based) call, but they are not always accurate. So do not fully trust the app — trust your gut.

Real police officers or government officials do not call from strange numbers. Their calls come from Landline numbers, often starting with STD codes like 011 (Delhi), 022 (Mumbai), etc. Or you may receive calls from official helplines like 100, 112, or verified numbers listed on government websites.

They will never use WhatsApp calls for official work or any other VoIP service for communication. They can’t call you from a foreign number and claim to be Indian police.

If the number looks strange or starts with a foreign code, do not trust it. Cut the call immediately if they say something scary and ask for money or personal information. Search the number online. Many scam numbers have already been reported by others. You can also call the nearest police station to check if the issue is real.

2. Unprofessional Digital Communication

Scammers try to look official, but their messages usually have many mistakes. They might send you a WhatsApp message, email, or SMS claiming to be from the police, a court, or a government office.

Here is how you can tell it is fake:

• The message may begin with “Dear User” or “Sir/Madam” instead of your full name.
• You may notice spelling mistakes or bad grammar.
• The logo or letterhead may look blurry, stretched, or copied.
• The email ID may look weird, like [email protected] or [email protected] — real government emails do not use Gmail or Outlook.
• The message may look unprofessional or badly formatted.

Real government communication is usually clean, well-written, and uses proper language. Official departments also have email addresses that end in .gov.in or use official WhatsApp Business accounts (with a green tick).

If you receive such a message, do not reply immediately. Look at the language and check the sender’s email or phone number. If it looks fishy, it probably is.

3. Dubious Links and Attachments

Many digital arrest scams begin with a message or email that looks official but contains a dangerous link or file. The goal is to trick you into clicking something that can steal your information or infect your phone or computer.

You might receive a message that says

• Your Aadhaar is under investigation. Click here to verify
• You have a court notice. Download the file now
• You sent a courier with illegal drugs
• Police FIR registered on your number. Tap this link to check the details

These messages often come on WhatsApp, SMS, email, or even through social media DMs. At first glance, the message might look real. But the link inside is not from any official website.

Here is how to spot them:

• The link may look strange, like cyberpolice-help.inform.net or delhi-police123.tk. These are not real government websites.
• Sometimes, they use shortened links like: bit.ly/notice456 to hide the real URL.
• The file they send may end with .exe, .apk, .zip, or .pdf. Be careful with these, especially if they come from unknown people.
• If you click such a link, it may ask for your personal details or ask you to download an app. Do not do it.

If you click such links, the link might take you to a fake website that looks like a police portal or government page. It may ask for your Aadhaar, PAN, or bank details. It could also install malware on your phone that steals passwords or watches your activity.

The same thing applies to attachments. These are files (PDFs, Word docs, or ZIP files) that may look like legal notices but are full of viruses.

Check if the website ends with .gov.in. If it does not, be cautious. Do not click on unknown links or open suspicious files. You should never download attachments from unknown numbers or emails. Always use a link preview tool if needed, but do not rely on it completely. On your phone, long-press the link to see where it goes. On a computer, hover your mouse over the link. If you are unsure, search the case number or contact the real department directly through their official website.

4. Inconsistencies in Digital “Credentials”

Some scammers try to look very official. They may send you fake ID cards, documents, or badges over WhatsApp or even show them during a video call. They might say they are from the cybercrime department, police, CBI, or court. But you need to look at these “credentials” very carefully.

The ID cards or letters they show are often of low quality. If you zoom in, you may notice the text is not sharp, the photo looks pasted, or the whole card looks like a bad screenshot.

Scammers often add fake stamps or watermarks to look real. But real government documents have clear watermarks, and stamps are not copied and pasted — they look naturally printed or embossed. If the stamp looks like it was added using an app or editing software, it is likely fake.

Sometimes the name on the ID does not match the name they told you. Or the document says “Delhi Police,” but the phone number is from another state or country. These small inconsistencies are big signs of fraud.

Most government IDs or letters follow a proper format. If something looks odd — like a weird font, wrong emblem, strange alignment, or missing signature — it could be fake. You can even compare it with samples from official websites to spot the difference.

During video calls, scammers might sit in front of a printed banner or digital background that says “Cyber Cell” or “Police HQ.” But if you observe closely, you might see it is just a piece of cloth or a fake digital image behind them. Also, real officers do not usually conduct such serious matters over video calls on WhatsApp.

Do not trust digital documents blindly. Anyone can edit an image using apps like Photoshop or Canva these days. Look for signs of editing, poor image quality, or anything that feels off. Compare the ID or letter with real examples from government websites if you can. You can also call the official department and verify. Use the number from their website, not the one shared by the scammer.

5. Lack of Official Digital Signatures or Verification

Today, most real government documents are shared in PDF format with something called a digital signature. This signature shows that the file is official and verified. If someone sends you a legal notice, arrest order, or court letter without this kind of signature, you should be very careful.

A digital signature is like a virtual stamp from the government. It confirms that the document is real and it has not been edited or changed.

In a real digitally signed PDF, you will usually see a blue bar on top (when opened in apps like Adobe Reader). It may say something like: “Digitally signed by XYZ Officer, Government of India.”

Scammers often share fake PDFs or images that look like government letters but do not have a digital signature. They may just scan a printout or create something on their computer and send it to you over WhatsApp or email. These files do not have any official signature verification and look like they were typed and saved without any proper validation. It might also include a fake scanned signature or stamp pasted in MS Word or Canva.

6. Demands for Unconventional Payment Methods

This is one of the biggest signs of a digital arrest scam. Scammers often ask you to pay money urgently to “settle” the case or “stop” the arrest. But the way they ask for money clearly shows it is fake.

They may say:

• You have committed a crime online, but we can help you if you pay a fine.
• This is a non-bailable offence, but we can cancel the warrant if you pay now.
• You must pay a security deposit to avoid jail.

They use fear to make you act quickly, without thinking. But here is the catch — the payment method is always suspicious.

Scammers will never ask you to pay into a proper government bank account. Instead, they ask for:

• Gift cards (like Amazon or Google Play)
• UPI payments to random names (like @ybl, @axl, etc.)
• Wallet transfers (Paytm, PhonePe, etc.)
• Crypto payments (like Bitcoin or USDT)
• Personal account numbers instead of official government bank details

This is a major red flag. No real police officer or government department will ever ask you to pay a fine or fee using gift cards, UPI, or crypto.

If you ever break the law, there is a proper legal process. You will receive a written notice or summons through proper channels and will be asked to appear in court. You must always pay fines or charges through government websites or official banks only.

You should never pay anyone who asks for money in a strange way. Avoid sharing OTPs, card details, or wallet balances with unknown people. If you are scared or confused, talk to someone you trust or call the nearest police station directly.

Always ask yourself: “Why would the police ask for money on WhatsApp or through gift cards?”

7. Urgency and Pressure Tactics Preventing Verification

One of the most dangerous tricks used in digital arrest scams is creating panic. Scammers do not give you time to think, check, or talk to someone else. They want you to act fast out of fear.

What They Usually Say

• “You are about to get arrested in the next 10 minutes.”
• “Your Aadhaar is linked to illegal activity.”
• “Do not disconnect this call, or you will be taken into custody.”
• “You cannot inform anyone right now. This is a secret investigation.”

All these statements are designed to scare you so much that you forget to ask questions or verify anything.

They keep you on the phone for a long time, so you do not get a chance to call a family member or friend, check the facts online, or contact a real police station.

This is done to control your mind and make you act in a hurry, like paying money, sharing personal details, or clicking on a dangerous link.

Real police or government officers never force you like this. They will contact you through proper notice or mail. They will also let you speak to a lawyer or family. These offices give you time to understand and respond. They never force you by saying, “Do not tell anyone.”

So if someone is shouting, threatening, or rushing you, it is a scam.

Final Thoughts

Digital arrest scams are dangerous, but they all share common tricks. If you stay calm and know what to look for, you can avoid becoming a victim.

Always remember:

• No arrest happens on a video call.
• No government agency demands money over WhatsApp.
• If something feels off, hang up and report.

The most important thing to remember is: be smart, be careful. Don’t just believe anyone who calls you. And please, don’t keep this information to yourself. Talk to your parents, your grandparents, your friends, and your neighbors. Many people, especially older folks, might not know about these online scams and can easily get scared. Share this with them. Tell them what to watch out for. The more people know about these tricks, the harder it will be for these scammers to succeed.