Bhubaneswar, 3 June (H.S.) In a major cyber safety alert, the Odisha Police has cautioned citizens against a rapidly spreading scam known as the “digital arrest.” The scam, which is targeting individuals across the state, involves cybercriminals impersonating law enforcement and judicial authorities to extort money through fear and manipulation.

In a public advisory posted on X on Tuesday, the police urged people to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious phone or video calls to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) or the nearest police station.

According to the advisory, scammers posing as police officers, CBI officials, customs authorities, or judicial personnel contact individuals and falsely accuse them of involvement in serious criminal offenses such as money laundering, financial fraud, or illegal parcel shipments. Victims are told they are under a so-called “digital arrest”, a term with no legal basis in Indian law, and are coerced into staying on the call and complying with demands under threat of immediate arrest or legal action.

To make the deception more convincing, the fraudsters often appear in uniform during video calls, display fake ID cards, or cite fabricated case numbers. In several reported incidents, victims were kept on lengthy calls—sometimes lasting hours—and pressured into transferring money to settle the case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda