Scammers blackmail people using 'digital arrest', online scams: Cyber advisory

New Delhi: Amid spate of incidents where cyber criminals conning people by threatening to arrest them by making Whatsapp calls, Indian cyber-security agency CERT-In on Sunday asked the public not fall prey to such messages.

The Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) issued an advisory listing more than dozen ways how the online scams are being perpetrated by fraudsters in the country, including "digital arrest" to dupe people by stealing their money and private data.

The advisory said "digital arrest" is an online scam where victims receive a phone call, e-mail or message claiming that they are under investigation for illegal activities, such as identity theft or money laundering.

The scammer threatens the victim with arrest or legal consequences unless he takes immediate action. They often create a sense of panic to prevent rational thinking, the advisory said.

Under the guise of "clearing their name", "assisting with the investigation" or "refundable security deposit/escrow account", individuals are coerced into transferring large sums of money to specified bank accounts or UPI IDs, it added.

The CERT-In also asked government agencies not to use platforms like WhatsApp or Skype for official communication.

The advisory asked people, who get contacted by such cyber criminals, to "not panic as scammers use fear and urgency to manipulate victims".

While asking the public not to share personal information or financial details over the phone or video calls, especially to unknown numbers, the CERT-In advised the people not to transfer money "under pressure" as legitimate law-enforcement agencies "will never pressure you into sending money immediately".

If anybody asked to send money immediately, it should be treated as a scam,the advisory said.

The advisory also suggested the public be aware of types of scam the cyber fraudsters were doing including phishing, lottery scams, job offer, investment, fake charity appeals, mistaken money-transfer, phone scams, parcel scams.

For the past few months, several incidents happened across the country where the public received whatsapp calls from unknown numbers where fraudsters demanded them to transfer the money to avoid arrest in cases.