‘Digital arrest’ scam calls escalate, say senior civil servants

Several senior IAS and IPS officers have expressed growing concern over a surge in fraudulent “digital arrest” calls, warning that the scam has infiltrated the highest echelons of bureaucracy. Many officers report receiving at least one such suspicious call daily, prompting them to block unknown numbers as a precautionary measure.

A senior IAS officer, formerly Chief Secretary, described the calls as “relentless.” He said, “I get these calls almost daily. The script never changes — they claim an offence is registered in my name and insist I stay on the line.”

The scam involves fraudsters impersonating officials from national investigative agencies, falsely alleging misuse of the target’s Aadhaar, SIM cards, or bank accounts for criminal activities. The callers then threaten arrest unless the individual cooperates.

“These are blatant extortion attempts,” said another IAS officer. “They falsely claim evidence against you and warn of imminent action.”

Originating from Noida, the scam has now been reported in multiple states. Despite ongoing investigations, the volume of fraudulent calls continues to climb. “It has spread everywhere; several colleagues face similar harassment,” said a retired senior IAS official.

The Reserve Bank of India has clarified repeatedly that no such “digital arrest” mechanism exists and urged the public to avoid these calls and report them to cybercrime authorities. State officials noted warnings had been issued earlier this year. Nevertheless, many senior officers admit to not filing complaints with cyber police yet.

“Top-level officials receive these calls, but few have lodged complaints,” said an officer familiar with the matter. Officials also observed that many victims reported receiving threats through automated IVR calls, indicating the scam’s growing reach and sophistication.