LawLoveLegal

A New Face of Cybercrime: Digital Arrest Through Fear and Impersonation In a disturbing instance of cyber-enabled fraud, a Delhi-based doctor couple was allegedly kept under what investigators describe as “digital arrest” for over two weeks and duped of nearly ₹14.85 crore by fraudsters impersonating officials from law enforcement agencies. The case exposes how fear of arrest, misuse of national security rhetoric, and impersonation of authorities are being deployed to psychologically restrain victims and extract large sums of money without physical confinement. Timeline of the Alleged Fraud According to Delhi Police, the fraud occurred between December 24 and January 9 , during which the accused maintained continuous contact with the victims through phone and video calls. An e-FIR was registered on Saturday , and the Cyber Crime Unit of Delhi Police has launched a full-scale investigation to trace the bank accounts and individuals involved. How the ‘Digital Arrest’ Began Victim In...

Introduction The Supreme Court of India has taken a firm stance against the rising menace of digital arrest scams — a new-age cybercrime in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials and extort money from citizens. The Court, while hearing a suo motu case initiated on the basis of a complaint by an elderly couple from Ambala, declared that such crimes must be dealt with an “iron hand.” The case underscores India’s growing vulnerability to sophisticated cyber-frauds exploiting digital communication platforms and the urgent need for coordinated national and international efforts to curb such offences. The Background: Rise of Digital Arrest Frauds The suo motu proceedings were initiated by the Supreme Court on October 17, 2024 , after receiving a letter from an elderly couple who lost over ₹1 crore in a scam where fraudsters pretended to be police officers and “digitally arrested” them through video calls. The scammers used fabricated visuals of courtrooms and fake offi...

Introduction: A Political Demonstration Turns Legal A political controversy unfolded in Maharashtra after Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Rohit Pawar publicly demonstrated how fake Aadhaar cards could allegedly be generated online. During an October 16 briefing, Pawar showcased a fabricated Aadhaar card in the name of former U.S. President Donald Trump to highlight what he termed “rampant identity fraud” and misuse in voter registration processes. However, what began as a political demonstration quickly turned into a legal matter when BJP social media cell co-convener Dhananjay Wagaskar filed a complaint alleging that the video misled the public and spread false and inflammatory claims. The FIR and Criminal Allegations Following the complaint, Mumbai Cyber Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against two unidentified individuals under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, 2000 . The ...