Got a 'digital arrest' call? It is a scam. Here is what to do
Reviewed by the VirtualVakil legal team · Last reviewed:
There is no such thing as a 'digital arrest' in Indian law: the police, CBI, ED, customs or a court do not arrest anyone over a video call, and no agency asks you to transfer money to 'verify' it. Cut the call, do not pay, and report the number on 1930, cybercrime.gov.in or Chakshu on Sanchar Saathi. If you have already paid, call 1930 immediately and tell your bank.
If the call is still going on
- End the call. You do not have to stay on camera, and you are not under arrest.
- Do not transfer any money, and do not share your screen, OTP or bank details.
- Tell someone at home right away. The scam depends on keeping you alone and silent.
- If you have already paid, call 1930 now and then your bank.
What to do after a digital arrest call, step by step
End the call and do not pay
Whatever the caller says about a parcel, your Aadhaar, a money-laundering case or your SIM, the demand for money proves it is a scam.
Verify independently
If you are worried a case is real, contact your local police station yourself, using a number you find independently, not one the caller gave. Genuine legal process comes as a written notice or summons that you can verify.
Report the number
Report the call or WhatsApp number on Chakshu at sancharsaathi.gov.in and on cybercrime.gov.in, with screenshots of the caller's profile, fake ID cards or letters.
If money was sent, treat it as an online fraud
Call 1930 immediately, report to your bank, and file the full complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with the transaction details.
Keep the evidence
Save the numbers, call logs, video call screenshots, fake documents, chats and the bank or UPI details they gave you.
How the scam usually runs
- A call says a parcel in your name contains drugs or fake passports, or your Aadhaar or SIM is linked to a crime.
- You are 'transferred' to a police, CBI, ED or customs 'officer' on a video call, often with a uniform, an office backdrop and official-looking letters.
- You are told you are under 'digital arrest', must stay on camera and must not tell anyone.
- You are asked to move your savings to a 'safe' or 'RBI verification' account, with a promise that it will be returned.
Signs that it is fake
- Any demand for money, for 'verification', 'bail' or 'clearance'.
- Pressure to keep the call secret from your family.
- An arrest, hearing or 'court' conducted entirely over WhatsApp or Skype.
- Documents sent as images on chat instead of a notice served on you.
Which sections usually apply
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| BNS S. 318 and S. 319 | Cheating, and cheating by personation. |
| BNS S. 204 | Personating a public servant. |
| BNS S. 308 | Extortion: putting a person in fear to obtain money. |
| IT Act S. 66D | Cheating by personation using a computer resource or communication device. |
The police decide which sections go into the FIR after looking at your facts. This list is a guide, not a charge sheet.
Three ways we can help
Free guidance on WhatsApp
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Prefer to file it yourself? Reporting on 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in is free. The step-by-step portal guide is on codesnag.ai: how to file a cyber crime complaint. All our cyber questions are on the cyber help page.
What people ask
Is 'digital arrest' legal in India?
They knew my Aadhaar number and address. Does that mean the call was real?
I have already transferred money. Can I get it back?
Where do I report a digital arrest number?
How do I protect my parents from this scam?
Where these rules come from
- PIB, 27 October 2024: Mann Ki Baat (115th episode), 'there is no system like digital arrest in the law'
- PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 14 May 2024: alert on 'digital arrest' by cyber criminals impersonating officials
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), Ministry of Home Affairs
- Sanchar Saathi, Department of Telecommunications (Chakshu: report suspected fraud calls and messages)
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (India Code)
- Information Technology Act, 2000 (India Code)
Last reviewed: 19 Oct 2026. This page gives legal information, not legal advice for your specific case. Rules and portals change; if anything here differs from the official source, the official source prevails. VirtualVakil is not a government portal.