00:00Picture this, you get multiple calls, video calls, one after another, with people in crisp
00:12CBI uniforms, confidently asserting that you are involved in a money laundering case.
00:21Why is a CBI officer video calling you?
00:24Confused, right?
00:25Well, this is no cooked up story, but exactly what happened with the chairman of the Vardhaman
00:31Group, SP Oswald.
00:34The call was not from CBI, but from the fraudster posing as CBI officers who went above and
00:41beyond staging an elaborate fake Supreme Court hearing, making him believe he was involved
00:49in a money laundering case.
00:56Under immense pressure and the looming threat of arrest, Oswald unwittingly transferred
01:02a staggering amount of 7 crore in instalment, believing he was safeguarding his future.
01:10It wasn't until two days later that the truth unravelled, revealing the entire scheme
01:16was nothing but a well-orchestrated fraud.
01:19Imagine, receiving a call that chills you to the bone.
01:29One that informs you of a digital arrest.
01:38This nightmare became a reality for Dr. Ruchika Tandon, a professor from Lucknow.
01:44Claiming to be tri-official, scammers convinced her she was involved in an illegal activity,
01:51leading her to transfer 2.81 crore before realising it was a scam.
01:57Now imagine, one fine day your account is suddenly credited with a large sum.
02:02Moments later, a fake bank representative calls you to inform you that a loan has been
02:09sanctioned in your name.
02:11Confused, you insist you never applied for such a loan.
02:15The banker, sounding legitimate, instructs you to return the funds to the correct account.
02:21Trusting their authority, you comply, only to realise weeks later that you have fallen
02:27victim to a loan scam.
02:29Loan scam often involves impersonators providing false information to secure loans, leaving
02:35you responsible for repayment.
02:38It raises critical questions about a bank's verification process.
02:42Who conducted the identity checks?
02:45How was KYC handled?
02:47What about the crucial documentations?
02:51Banks are yet to respond to questions like these in the public domain.
02:56Are banks also involved in the scam?
03:00How do scammers get our bank details?
03:04Are banks doing enough due diligence?
03:08Should banks be held responsible for data leaks?
03:11We live in an era where technology is intertwined with every aspect of our lives.
03:17From work to banking, communication to entertainment, everything is just a click away.
03:23But in this hyper-connected world, there is a lurking danger, cybercrime, which is skyrocketing
03:30at an alarming rate.
03:32Did you know that in financial year 2023 alone, India faced over 30,000 crore in losses due
03:39to cyber fraud?
03:41And this is only the tip of the iceberg.
03:44According to the recent reports, India lost more than 1,750 crore and over 7,40,000 complaints
03:54were reported in the first four months of 2024 alone.
03:59Behind these staggering numbers are the real people, families who have lost their life
04:04savings, professionals duped out of their hard-earned money, and businesses that have
04:11crumbled because of these scams.
04:17Criminals become more sophisticated.
04:19They constantly update their techniques, always staying one step ahead.
04:25What used to be simple phishing email has now evolved into highly coordinated scams
04:31involving fake identities, defaked videos, and real-time impersonations of official organizations.
04:39No one is safe, not the businessman, not the scientist, and not even the ordinary citizen.
04:47As we dive deeper into the world of cybercrime, there is one particularly dangerous scam that
04:53is catching many people off-guard, the so-called digital arrest.
05:01Now what is digital arrest scam and how does it work?
05:05Let me be absolutely clear, there is no such thing as digital arrest.
05:10It is all about psychological manipulation.
05:13The fraudster impersonates a law enforcement officer or government official and claims
05:20that you are involved in serious criminal activity, anything from money laundering to
05:26drug trafficking.
05:27They will tell you there is a warrant for your arrest, but because you are in a different
05:32city or country, they are authorized to arrest you digitally.
05:37The pressure is immediate and intense.
05:40They keep you on edge, often using legal jargon, fake documents, and even video calls to make
05:47their claim seem legitimate.
05:50In some cases we saw earlier, these criminals have gone so far as to stage fake court hearings
05:56just to make the entire scam more convincing.
06:00You may wonder, how do people fall for this?
06:04The truth is that cybercriminals have become incredibly smart and organized.
06:10They study their targets carefully, sometimes gathering personal information from social
06:16media or data breaches.
06:18This means that when they contact you, they may already know things about you, your job,
06:25your family, or even your financial situation.
06:28That makes their threats seem more real.
06:31Another factor is urgency.
06:33The fraudster creates a sense of panic, leaving you with very little time to think clearly.
06:40Under pressure, even highly educated and tech-savvy individuals can make impulsive decisions.
06:48Once you are trapped in their web, they begin to demand money, claiming it will help clear
06:53your name or prevent your arrest.
06:56Remember, this is a purely fabricated setup created by cybercriminals to exploit fear,
07:04confusion, and a lack of understanding.
07:07Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their methods and being aware of the latest scam
07:12is your best defense.
07:16Cybercriminals today are masters of deception.
07:18With access to advanced technology, they can manipulate images, videos, and voices to mimic
07:25real officials.
07:27This ability to create convincing digital personas is one reason why these scams are
07:32so effective.
07:33In fact, some cybercriminals operate like well-oiled corporations, with different teams
07:40specializing in data collection, social engineering, and money laundering.
07:46They use throwaway SIM cards and encrypted communication apps, making them difficult
07:52to trace.
07:54These are not lone wolves.
07:56These are well-organized criminal syndicates, often spread across borders, making it even
08:02harder for law enforcement to take immediate actions.
08:06As we become more dependent on technology, it is critical that we stay vigilant.
08:13Cybercriminals are always adapting, always finding new ways to deceive.
08:17But the more informed we are, the better equipped we will be to protect ourselves.
08:23Remember, awareness is your first line of defense.
08:27Don't let fear or pressure cloud your judgment.
08:30When in doubt, trust your instinct, hang up, and report the incident.
08:35By staying cautious and alert, we can outsmart even the most sophisticated of cybercriminals.
08:42Thank you for staying with us.
08:44Stay safe, stay informed, and most importantly, stay aware.
08:51This is your host Rhea Kumari, and you are watching OneIndia.
08:56Don't miss out.
08:57Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.
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