“Scammers look at the police, Central Bureau of Investigation, narcotics and sometimes central bank officials,” Modi said.

The crooks appear on screen with a studio setup that resembles a police station, tax office, or federal investigative agency. They also wear official-looking uniforms to appear legitimate and produce fake ID cards.

Scammers usually claim that the victim has sent a package containing illegal goods, such as drugs, or claim that their phone has been linked to illegal activities. Fake videos and fake arrest warrants have also been reported as part of the scam.

More and more cases of so-called digital arrests are being reported.

In August, the Bengaluru police arrested several men , externalafter a victim was allegedly defrauded of more than 20 million rupees ($237,000; £183,000), according to Indian media reports.

The scammers said a package addressed to the victim contained the drug MDMA and was seized by police. In a WhatsApp call, they threatened him with legal action if he didn’t pay to settle his alleged legal problems.

Actor Maala Parvathi, who mainly appears in Malayalam films, also reported, external being scammed this month.

Indian media reported that she said the crooks showed her fake IDs, pretending to be Mumbai Police officers, accused her of drug smuggling in Taiwan and put her under virtual detention for hearing.

She realized it was a scam before any money was exchanged, she said.

In his warning to the nation, Modi told victims to follow three steps to stay safe.

“First of all, stay calm and don’t panic. Record or make a screen recording if possible,” the prime minister said.

“Second, remember that no government agency will threaten you online.

“Thirdly, take action by calling the national cyber helpline and also inform the police about the crime.”