'Stop, Think, Act': PM Modi Outlines Steps To Combat 'Digital Arrest' Scams

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 115th episode of his Mann Ki Baat radio address, alerted citizens on Sunday about the rise of “digital arrest” scams.

These scams, he explained, involve fraudsters impersonating officials from government agencies to deceive people into believing they are under investigation.

“There is no system like digital arrest under law,” PM Modi said, Indian Express reported.

“No government agency will ever contact you via phone or video call for such an investigation,” he added.

To demonstrate the tactics used by the 'digital arrest' fraudsters, a representative video of the scam’s method was also shared during the broadcast.

PM Modi described how the fraudsters often pose as officials from agencies like the police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), narcotics departments, and even the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), adopting confident tones to mislead individuals.

Emphasising the role of awareness in preventing such incidents, he urged schools and colleges to organise campaigns and raise awareness.

“Follow these 3 steps to stay safe: stop, think, take action. First, stay calm and do not panic. Record or take a screen recording if possible. Second, remember that no government agency will threaten you online. Third, take action by dialling 1930 to connect with the national cyber helpline and also inform police about such a crime,” PM Modi said.

"I’ll reiterate that there is no system like digital arrest in the law, this is just a fraud, deceit, it is a lie, a gang of criminals and those who are doing this are enemies of society. To deal with the fraud that is going on in the name of digital arrest, all the investigative agencies are working together with the state governments," he said.

"Agencies are doing their job, but for protection from scams in the name of digital arrest, it is very important that everyone is aware, every citizen is aware. Those who are victims of this kind of cyber fraud should let as many people as possible know about it," he added.

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