‘Digital arrest’ call from fake CBI, police, ED, customs or TRAI in India? It is a scam — what to do right now, how to report on 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in, freezing the money trail, FIR under BNS ss.204, 308, 318, 319 (old IPC 170, 384, 419, 420) and IT Act s.66D, and what real police notices look like (2026)
Plain guide for anyone who gets a video or phone call saying a parcel in their name had drugs, their Aadhaar or SIM was used in money laundering, or that they are ‘under digital arrest’ and must stay on camera and transfer money for ‘verification’: why there is no such thing as a digital arrest in Indian law, what to do in the first hour, how to report on the 1930 helpline and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, how frozen money is usually traced and released, and how a real summons or arrest differs. Educational only — not legal advice. Adhiwakta does not file complaints, contact police or banks, or recover money for anyone.
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There is no ‘digital arrest’ in Indian law
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs says in its advisory of 6 March 2025: “There is no concept of Digital Arrest under any Indian Laws.” Police, CBI, ED, Narcotics, customs, RBI, TRAI or a judge do not arrest anyone over a video call, keep people ‘confined’ on Skype or WhatsApp, or ask for money to be moved to a ‘safe’, ‘RBI’ or ‘verification’ account. Fraudsters use spoofed numbers, fake uniforms, studio sets made to look like police stations or courts, and forged letters with seals and Supreme Court or agency logos. If any caller tells you not to cut the call or not to tell your family, that itself is the warning sign.
How the scam usually runs
Government advisories describe a common pattern: an IVR or ‘courier’ call says a parcel with drugs, fake passports or SIM cards was booked in your name; or your Aadhaar / mobile number is linked to money laundering, a terror case or illegal deposits; or a relative is ‘in custody’. The call is passed to a fake officer on video who shows an ‘arrest warrant’ or ‘freeze order’, threatens immediate arrest, and asks you to stay on camera for hours or days. Then comes the demand — transfer savings, break FDs, take a loan or sell gold so the money can be ‘checked’ and ‘returned’. Senior citizens are targeted most often, as the Supreme Court noted in its suo motu case in 2025.
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Write in Hindi or English · general guidance, not legal advice
What to do in the first hour
1) Cut the call — you do not need anyone’s permission. 2) Do not transfer money, share OTPs, install screen-sharing or ‘remote support’ apps, or send Aadhaar, PAN or bank details. 3) Tell a family member and call your local police station or 112 to verify — use a number you look up yourself, not one the caller gives. 4) If money has already gone, call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 at once and also report on cybercrime.gov.in. Early reporting matters because the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System alerts banks and wallets so they can try to put a hold on the money before it is moved further. 5) Call your bank’s official helpline to block cards / net banking and ask for a written acknowledgement.
Keep the evidence
Take screenshots of the caller numbers, WhatsApp / Skype IDs, video-call screens, fake documents, messages and the payee account / UPI IDs. Keep bank statements and UTR / transaction reference numbers. Do not delete chats or call logs even if you feel embarrassed — they are the trail investigators need. Write a short timeline: who called, from which number, what they said, and each payment with date, time and amount. You can also report suspected fraud numbers and messages on the Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu).
FIR and the offences involved
A complaint on cybercrime.gov.in gets an acknowledgement number; follow it up with the cyber police station or your local police station for an FIR. Facts like these can disclose offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (in force from 1 July 2024) such as s.204 personating a public servant (old IPC 170), s.308 extortion (old IPC 383–384), s.318 cheating (old IPC 420) and s.319 cheating by personation (old IPC 416 / 419), and under the Information Technology Act, 2000 s.66C (identity theft) and s.66D (cheating by personation using a computer resource). Cheating and extortion are cognizable, so police must register an FIR; if they refuse, see our guide on police refusing an FIR. On 1 December 2025 the Supreme Court made the CBI the primary agency to investigate digital-arrest cases and asked States to consent; your complaint still starts with 1930 / cybercrime.gov.in and the local police.
Getting money back — what is realistic
Money is recovered only if it can be traced and held in an account before it is withdrawn. If the bank or police freeze an amount, its release to you usually needs an order of the Magistrate in the case (an application for release / interim custody of property under the BNSS), supported by the FIR and your bank proof. There is no fixed time-line and no guarantee of recovery. Be careful of a second scam: people who call claiming to be ‘recovery agents’, lawyers or officers who can return your money for a fee.
What a real police notice or arrest looks like
Real police action follows the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). For offences punishable up to 7 years, police generally issue a written notice of appearance under s.35(3) (old CrPC 41A) asking you to come to a police station — not to pay money. On arrest, police must tell you the grounds (s.47, old 50) and inform a relative or friend (s.48, old 50A), and you must be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours. Courts issue summons and warrants through the court process, and you can check any real case on eCourts with the case number or CNR. If you receive a notice, verify it by visiting or calling the police station named on it through its official number.
If your bank account has been frozen after such a scam
Sometimes the victim’s own account, or the account of someone who unknowingly received money, is frozen by the bank on a police request. Ask the bank in writing for the name of the police station, the complaint / FIR number and the amount on hold, then approach that police station and, if needed, the Magistrate. Our guide on bank accounts frozen by cyber police explains the usual steps.
What this guide is not
It does not decide whether a particular call was a crime, which agency will investigate, or whether money will be returned. Procedures differ by State cyber cell. For persons who cannot afford counsel, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) provides government legal aid to eligible persons under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not file cyber complaints or FIRs, contact police, banks or agencies, or recover money. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is ‘digital arrest’ legal in India?
- No. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’s advisory of 6 March 2025 says there is no concept of digital arrest under any Indian law. Police, CBI, ED, customs or courts do not arrest people on video calls or ask for money for verification.
- What should I do if I have already sent money?
- Call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 immediately and report on cybercrime.gov.in, then inform your bank through its official helpline. Quick reporting lets banks try to hold the money. Keep transaction IDs and screenshots and follow up with the police for an FIR.
- Which sections apply to a digital arrest scam?
- Depending on facts: BNS s.204 personating a public servant (old IPC 170), s.308 extortion (old 384), s.318 cheating (old 420), s.319 cheating by personation (old 419), and IT Act s.66C and s.66D.
- Will I get my money back?
- Only if it is traced and frozen before withdrawal. Release of a frozen amount usually needs a Magistrate’s order in the case. There is no guaranteed recovery or timeline, and anyone promising recovery for a fee may be another fraudster.
- How do I know if a police notice is real?
- Real notices come in writing under the BNSS, name a police station and officer, and ask you to appear — they do not ask for money transfers. Verify by calling the police station on an official number you find yourself, and check court cases on eCourts.
- Who investigates digital arrest cases now?
- On 1 December 2025 the Supreme Court made the CBI the primary agency for digital-arrest cases and asked States to give consent. Victims still report first on 1930, cybercrime.gov.in or the local police.
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