4 min readNew DelhiMay 17, 2024 11:41 AM IST
First published on: May 16, 2024 at 06:25 PM IST
Following increasing reports of “digital arrests” by cybercriminals posing as law enforcement officers, the central government has collaborated with Microsoft to block more than 1,000 Skype IDs used for online intimidation, blackmail, and extortion. The government has advised people to file a complaint immediately after an incident.
Cases of ‘digital arrest’
Online frauds and criminals typically call potential victims and tell them that they have sent or are the intended recipients of a parcel containing illegal goods, drugs, fake passports or any other contraband item. In some cases, the criminals contact relatives or friends of the target and tell them that the target has been found to be involved in a crime or an accident, and is in their custody.
The criminals, who often use pictures or identities of police personnel to convey authenticity, usually demand money from the target for a ‘compromise’ and closure of the case. In certain cases, the victims are “digitally arrested”, and forced to stay visible over Skype or other video conferencing platforms to the criminals until their demands are met.
The cybercriminals are also known to use studios that look like police stations or government offices, and to wear uniforms similar to those of law enforcement agencies.
A large number of complaints have been made on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) about intimidation, blackmail, extortion, and digital arrests by cybercriminals posing as police officers, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Enforcement Directorate (ED), etc.
Victims around the country have reported having lost large sums of money to these criminals.
Actions by the Centre
Intelligence agencies have concluded that the incidents are part of an organised online economic crime racket being run by cross-border crime syndicates. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which coordinates the response to cybercrime in the country, has blocked more than 1,000 Skype IDs linked to such activities, after collaborating with Microsoft.
It is also working to block SIM cards, mobile devices and “mule” accounts used by the cybercriminals Money mules or “smurfers” are “innocent victims who are duped by fraudsters into laundering stolen/ illegal money via their bank account(s)”, according to a security advisory posted by HDFC Bank on its website. “When such incidents are reported, the money mule becomes the target of police investigations, due to their involvement,” says the advisory.
The Home Ministry is working with other ministries and their agencies, RBI, and other organisations to combat these criminal activities. I4C has been providing inputs and technical support to police forces of states/ UTs to identify and investigate cases.
I4C has also posted infographics and videos on its social media platform Cyberdost, and on its handles on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, etc., to increase awareness. The Ministry has advised citizens to be alert and spread awareness about cybercrime.
People who receive such calls should immediately report the incident on the cybercrime helpline 1930, or at http://www.cybercrime.gov.in. They should also file a complaint and inform the local police.
The criminals, who often use pictures or identities of police personnel to convey authenticity, usually demand money from the target for a 'compromise' and closure of the case. (Via Pixabay) 
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