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Journalism of Courage
As digital arrest scams continue to target people, one man decided to turn the tables on a scammer who posed as a police officer. Instead of being intimidated, he set up a hilarious prank that left the fraudster stunned. The scammer, who had been trying to scare the man over a video call, was met with an unexpected surprise: a puppy.
The scammer, initially confused, quickly realises he’s been outwitted. He smiles awkwardly and tries to divert his camera. However, the man keeps laughing and teasing him, saying, “Arey, yeh raha main. Arey, thanedaar. Dikh raha hai? Arey nakli vardi (Hey, I am here. Inspector, can you see me? Hey fake uniform.)”
After a few more moments, the scammer, embarrassed, cuts the call.
Watch the video:
The video was shared by an Instagram user, and it didn’t take long for it to go viral. People on social media couldn’t help but laugh at the unexpected twist, and the comments section was quickly flooded with a mix of reactions.
One user called it, “UNO REVERSE.” Another user wrote, “Digital arrest ki jagah Doggy arrest ho gya (Doggy got arrested instead of digital arrest.)”
A third user commented, “Vo khud hass padha (The scammer couldn’t help but laugh.)”
Some viewers found the prank so cute that even the scammer couldn’t help but smile. He’s now being called “Pookie scammer”.
What is a digital arrest scam?
A digital arrest scam is a new type of online fraud where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials—often wearing fake police uniforms—or government officials, such as representatives from the Income Tax Department. These scammers initiate video calls with unsuspecting individuals, claiming they have been placed under a “digital arrest.”
During the call, the scammers engage the victim in conversation, persuading them to share personal information and display government-issued documents like Aadhaar or PAN cards. After building credibility, the fraudsters propose “settling” the matter in exchange for money. Victims who are unaware of such scams may end up paying, believing the situation to be legitimate.
