New Delhi: In the first quarter of this year, Indians lost Rs. 120.30 crore in “digital arrest frauds”, government data indicates.

“We found that Indians lost Rs 120.30 crore in digital arrest, Rs 1,420.48 crore in trading scam, Rs 222.58 crore in investment scam, and Rs 13.23 crore in romance/dating scam,” Rajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), had said while releasing the January-April data, reported The Indian Express.

As part of the digital arrest scam, the cyber fraudsters would pose as law enforcement officers and tell the victims that the they were involved in certain illegal activities. Thereafter, they would demand money for closing the case.

Data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) reveals that 7.4 lakh complaints were made between January 1 and April 30 this year, while 15.56 lakh complaints were received in all of 2023. A total 9.66 lakh complaints were reported in 2022, up from 4.52 lakh the previous year.

Many of those who carry out digital arrest scams are based in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The cybercrime operations based in these countries employ a comprehensive array of deceptive strategies, including recruitment efforts by exploiting social media to lure Indians with fake employment opportunities,” Kumar said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had warned the public of digital arrest fraud on Sunday (October 27), saying that no government agencies threaten people over phone and demand money, reported Hindustan Times.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.