Bengaluru tops digital arrest scams; Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR close behind

Digital arrest

Bengaluru, Hyderabad and the National Capital Region (NCR) are the nation’s primary hotspots for a sophisticated cyber fraud known as "digital arrest," accounting for nearly 65% of all such cases, according to an analysis by Union Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), cited by HT.

The analysis details that in the first six months of 2025, Bengaluru reported the highest incidence at 26.38%. It was followed by Hyderabad at 19.97% and the Delhi-NCR region at 18.14%. While the precise number of cases was not available, the data underscores a concentrated criminal trend in these technology-centric urban centres.

The "digital arrest" scam is an elaborate ruse where fraudsters, impersonating law enforcement officials from agencies like the CBI or NCB, contact victims via video call. They falsely accuse the individuals of involvement in serious crimes and then coerce them into paying extortion money to avoid a fake arrest, all while keeping them detained on the video call under the guise of a virtual police custody.

The I4C analysis, as cited by HT, also sheds light on the profile of typical targets. The vast majority of victims, 76.69%, fall within the 30 to 60 age bracket. Specifically, those aged 30-45 constitute 41.10% of victims, while the 45-60 group make up 35.59%.

An officer familiar with the findings reportedly said that this targeting is strategic. “The fact that over 76% of the victims between 30 and 60 are targeted shows that the fraudsters are targeting people who are working, have savings and are looking for investments,” the officer said, adding that the initial contact is often made through platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, email and even websites with malicious links.

Beyond the three main hotspots, cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Vadodara have also reported frequent incidents of this cyber crime. The issue is considered significant enough that it is likely to be a topic for deliberation at the upcoming 60th DGP-IGP annual conference in Chhattisgarh later this month.

In response to the escalating threat, the Centre has undertaken several measures. It has published public advisories on the scam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi specifically alerted citizens about digital arrests in a public address on October 27, 2024. Awareness campaigns were also conducted at major gatherings like the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela.

As part of its crackdown, the government has blocked a staggering 942,000 SIM cards and 263,348 mobile handset IMEIs identified as being linked to cyber fraud operations. The I4C continues its work as the nodal agency tasked with building the capacity of state police forces to combat these evolving digital threats.