Finance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, while addressing the 115th edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, cautioned people against “digital arrest” frauds.
In his monthly radio address, the PM said probe agencies are working with states to deal with the issue, but added that awareness is essential in protecting oneself from such a scam.
“…Under digital arrest fraud, callers portray themselves as police, CBI, RBI or narcotics officials, and they confidently talk. People asked me to talk about this in Mann Ki Baat. You need to understand this. The first step is your personal information. They collect all your personal information. 2nd Step is the atmosphere of fear. They will scare you so much that you won’t even be able to think. Step 3- The time pressure…Victims of digital arrest are from all sections and ages. Many people have lost lakhs of their hard-earned money. If you ever get a call like this, don’t be afraid. You should know that no investigating agency does such an interrogation over the phone or video call,” PM Modi said in the radio show.
He asked the masses to record such attempts.
“There are 3 steps of digital security- stop, think, and take action. If possible, take a screenshot and do the recording. No government agencies give such threats over the phone nor do they demand money,” he added, reported ANI.
Modi advised people to ring 1930 to reach the national cyber helpdesk. He stated that such attempts should likewise be reported to the police.
The so-called digital arrests have recently surfaced as a threat throughout India.
Last month, Vardhman Group chairman SP Oswal was fooled by cyber criminals into transferring ₹7 crore to their bank accounts after being put into “digital custody”.
The crooks impersonated CBI personnel. They put him under “digital surveillance for two days via Skype” as a “suspect in a money-laundering case”.
The fraudsters “impersonated Chief Justice of India Justice D Y Chandrachud”, “held a fake Supreme Court hearing via Skype” and cited the money-laundering investigation against Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
Source:HT
