Bhupinder Singh Sasan
Recently , my friend’s daughter who is studying in Australia received a fraudulent call claiming to be from the Indian consulate in Melbourne. The caller tried to scare her, but she stayed calm, refused a video call and told her father who in turn called me .Luckily with a timely alert ,she avoided the cyber scam though many victims often fall prey to it due to panic or other reasons.
In order to prevent such scams ,or any other cyber scams ,from happening to anyone, it is essential that one should be aware of cyber crime.
Cyber crimes or e- crimes are offences that are committed against individuals or groups with a crimnal motive of intentionally harming the reputation of the victims, causing physical or mental harm and cause loss of money or information directely or indirectely by using the internet and electronic devices .
Cyber or e- crimes are classified as computer crime, High -tech crime ( Hacking,money laundering , Identity theft etc), white collar crime, Cyber – terrorism etc
The real begining of cyber crime started in 1960 , when there were attacks in the USA on the telecommunication systems. With the increasing use of the internet ,criminals started using malicious programs to get their goals. By mid 1990, cyber crimes had become more advanced and used software systems and computer breakthroughs and frauds spreads by e-mails. The most famous cyber crime took place in 2001 , when Microsoft was attacked and corrupted from a new Domain Name Server ( DNS) which blocked microsoft’s web sites for two days. One of the most dangerous cyber attacks is the Structured Query Language ( SQL) – Injection attack , launched through the web browsers, that leaves a lot of doors widely open for the attackers to exploit these and gaining access to confidential Information that resides in the website server database.
Types of Cyber crimes
Financial crimes : Involves theft of money or financial data such as credit card fraud, online banking scams , phishing attacks, cryptocurrency theft etc
Privacy violations: Cyber crimnals may steal personsal data for identity theft or to sell on the dark web
Hacking : Involves unauthorized access to computer system or networks with the intention of stealing data ,disrupting operations or causing damage
Cyberstalking : Involves using the internet or digital devices to harass, threaten, or intimidate Individuals
Malware attacks: malware including viruses, worms and ransomware can be spread through the internet to infect computer and networks . Ransomware attacks, where crimnals encrypt data and demand payment for its release are a growing concern.
Intellectual Property Thefts : Includes the illegal copying and distribution of copyrighted material such as software , music , movies etc . Software piracy is a major issue depriving creators of revenue and hindering innovation
Cyber Warfare: Involves the use of cyber attacks by nation state or terrorist groups to disrupt critical infrastructure ,steal classified information or cause physical harm
Digital Arrest :
Digital arrest is a fraudulent tactic used by cybercriminals to falsely accuse individuals of breaking the law, often claiming the existence of a digital arrest warrant. These scammers pose as officials from organizations such as customs, income tax department or even central investigative agencies. Their goal is to intimidate you into paying money or providing sensitive personal details.
Modus Operandi:
Fake Authority Claims: The scammer pretends to be a law enforcement official or agent.
Threat of Arrest: Scammers then warn victim about a supposed arrest warrant issued in victim’s name for unpaid taxes, customs violations, or other fabricated charges.
Request for Video Communication: Victims are often coerced into switching to video calls via platforms like WhatsApp or Skype to make the interaction appear more legitimate.
Fake Police Station Set-up:
Scammers may create a convincing “police station” backdrop to gain trust of the victim.
Demand for Money: Victims are then pressured to pay a fee, often via a bank transfer or UPI ID, to “settle the matter” and avoid arrest.
How to protect yourself from Digital Arrest Scams
Always remember, there is no provision for digital arrest under Indian criminal law. Staying vigilant and informed is the best defense against such frauds. Here are practical steps to safeguard yourself:
Verify the Source: If someone claims to be an official, take their name, organization and contact number. Cross-check this information by contacting the agency through official channels.
Be Suspicious of Immediate Payment Requests: Legitimate authorities will never demand instant payments over the phone or via online transfers.
Avoid Sharing Personal Details: Do not disclose sensitive information, such as Aadhaar numbers, bank details, or OTPs, over the phone or online.
Report Suspicious Calls: To report suspected fraud communications received through Call/SMS/ WhatsApp visit www.sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/
To Report any Cybercrime incident call 1930 or visit www.cybercrime.gov.in
Stay Educated: Familiarize yourself with the latest scams by following updates from trusted sources such as your concerned bank
Prevention and Awareness
Personal cyber security:
– Use strong , unique passwords ( mix of letters,numbers, symbols)
– Enable Two -Factor Authentication ( 2FA) wherever possible
– Keep devices updated ( OS ,apps,antivirus)
– Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities such as banking
– Use a secure VPN for secure browsing
– Don’t click unknown links or download attachments from suspicious e mails
– Always log out from accounts on shared computers
Social Media Safety:
– Keep accounts private ,restrict who can see your posts
– Avoid oversharing personal Information such as DOB,location,Family details etc
– Don’t accept friend/follow requests from strangers
– Be cautious of fake job offers, giveaways, Phishing messages
Financial and Online Transaction Safety :
* Use official banking apps /portals only
* Enable transaction alerts (sms /e mails)
* Don’t save card details on random sites
* Prefer UPI,secure gateways (Paytm, Razorpay etc)
* Double check website URL ( https://, spelling errors often means fake sites)
Business /Workplace Cybersecurity:
* Install firewalls and antivirus on company systems
* Train employees about phising ,malware and data prtection
* Keep regular data backups (cloud + offline )
* Use role based access ( not everyone should access sensitive data)
* Secure Wi-Fi networks with strong encryption
Legal Awareness :
– Be aware of IT 2000 Acts and its amendments
– Report Cyber crime at cybercrime.gov.in
– Call 1930 helpline for immediate reporting of online fraud
– Don’t lose time in reporting if some cyber fraud happens to you
– Inform your bank /wallet provider to block the transaction
– Keep evidence ( Screenshots , sms , e mails , whatsapp chats , transaction ID’s )
– Visit the nearest cyber police station immediately
– The quick action matters due to the fact that first few hours are golden hours and the faster you act,the higher the chance of recovering your money. Cyber Police / Banks can freeze the fraudulent within the golden hours
In conclusion , cyber crimes are a growing threat in today’s digital world but by staying alert ,using secure online practices , trusting your instincts ,verifying any claim ,Remember, legitimate authorities will never ask for payments or sensitive details over the phone or online and also by reporting frauds without delay we can build a safer digital environment for all.
(The author is Investigating Officer, Cyber Police Station , Jammu)
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