Why in the News?

The Prime Minister in his recent broadcast of “Mann Ki Baat” warned about the ‘Digital Arrest’ scams in India.

What is Digital Arrest?

	Details
What are they?	A fraudulent scheme where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money from victims under the false pretence of an arrest.
Modus Operandi	• Scammers use audio or video calls to intimidate victims. • Claim involvement in illegal activities (e.g., drugs, contraband). • Victims are kept under constant visual surveillance until demands are met.
Common Tactics	• Use of deepfake videos and fake arrest warrants. • Threats regarding family members being involved in crimes. • Fake claims about parcels containing illegal goods.
Victim Impact	Victims may face significant financial losses, emotional distress, and a sense of vulnerability due to the intimidation tactics employed by scammers.
Recent Trends	• Increase in reported cases; over 11 lakh complaints of financial cyber fraud in 2023. • Rising incidents attributed to the expansion of internet users.
Prevention Measures	• Awareness of scams and verification of callers’ identities. • Immediate disconnection of suspicious calls. • Reporting incidents to local police and cybercrime helplines.
Legal Framework	• Governed by the Information Technology Act, 2000. • Reports can be filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in).

[2017] In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents?

1. Service providers

2. Data centres

3. Body corporate

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3