Fake Arrest Warrant Scams in India
How scammers in India impersonate CBI, ED, TRAI, and courier companies to threaten victims with fake arrest warrants, extorting payments to avoid non-existent legal proceedings.
Part of: Fake Arrest Warrant Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake arrest warrant scams — known locally as 'digital arrest scams' — have been identified by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as one of the highest-impact fraud categories in India. The Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs have issued public warnings following significant financial losses.
The scams exploit widespread unfamiliarity with legal processes and the psychological weight that government authority carries, particularly when delivered via video call with actors dressed in official uniforms in convincing set dressings.
How this scam works on India
A victim receives a call claiming their phone number or Aadhaar number is linked to criminal activity — money laundering, drug trafficking, or TRAI violations. The caller transfers them to a 'CBI officer' or 'Enforcement Directorate official' on video call.
The video call features uniformed actors in a staged office resembling a government agency. The victim is told they are under 'digital arrest' — confined to their home and prohibited from contacting anyone — while a large sum is extracted as bail, fine, or money to clear their name.
Courier scam variants claim a parcel in the victim's name contains drugs or banned substances intercepted at customs. Payment is demanded to avoid formal arrest.
Common red flags
- Call claiming your Aadhaar, phone, or address is linked to criminal activity
- Transfer to a video call with uniformed officials demanding payment to avoid arrest
- Instruction not to speak to family, friends, or a lawyer — 'digital arrest'
- Request for payment via NEFT, IMPS, or cryptocurrency to avoid formal proceedings
- Caller ID showing a government agency number — this can be easily spoofed
How to protect yourself
- No government agency in India conducts arrests or hearings via video call or phone
- Hang up immediately and call the official agency's published number to verify any claim
- Report to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in
- Call 1930 — the national cybercrime helpline — immediately if targeted
- Do not make any payment under threat of arrest without consulting a lawyer first
How to report it
- Report to cybercrime.gov.in or call the National Cybercrime Helpline at 1930
- File an FIR at your local police station
- Report to I4C via the Ministry of Home Affairs cybercrime portal
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'digital arrest' scam in India?
A 'digital arrest' is not a real legal concept — it is a term invented by scammers to psychologically confine a victim to their home and prevent them from seeking help or verification. No Indian law permits an arrest to be conducted remotely by phone or video. Any call claiming you are under 'digital arrest' is fraud. Report immediately to 1930.