MHA and CERT-IN, a cyber security agency under the Ministry of Information and Technology, have issued a series of notices for people, urging them to report any suspected scams directly to I4C via the hotline, 1930.

These recommendations also emphasize that prompt reporting increases the chances of recovering stolen funds and preventing further losses.

Modus operandi

Cybercriminals usually contact their targets by phone or email, posing as law enforcement officials. They use fear and intimidation to manipulate victims into transferring money by creating elaborate scenarios that suggest the victim is involved in illegal activities.

“They threaten you, saying if you hang up, they’ll make sure you never get out of jail,” said Srinivas Kodali, an independent cybersecurity researcher.

The scam often starts with a few phone calls, followed by a video call in which the scammer appears as a police officer, judge or other official. They may even use images of real police officers, lawyers and judges taken from social media profiles to make their stories more believable.

Victims are then shown fake arrest warrants, legal notices or official-looking documents sent via email or messaging apps. The most common charges cited in these scams include money laundering, drug trafficking, and cybercrime.

For example, the scammer might claim it’s a “money laundering case” or “the drugs addressed to you have been intercepted.”

In some cases, criminals fabricate evidence to make the allegations seem more believable.

In one such case in the country, a 44-year-old techie was placed under ‘digital arrest’ in Hyderabad by cybercriminals in a fake money laundering case for nearly 30 hours.

Scammers may also try to emotionally manipulate victims.

“It can happen in many ways. He might say, “I arrested your son. If you want to release him, you have to pay,’” explained Srinivas.

“If the father can’t reach the child, he might think so. You scare a parent for their child,” he added.

A report by the cyber wing of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) I4C reveals that several call centers based in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand are linked to “digital arrest scams”.

These call centers are often located in Chinese-owned casinos in Cambodia, where cyber-slavery issues are also a significant concern, the report said.

While the core of these operations are based abroad, the report points out that around 30 to 40 per cent of the fraudulent activities are traced to India, where local call centers are also actively involved in perpetrating the scams.