The Supreme Court of India has taken decisive action in response to a disturbing rise in “digital arrest” scams, a sophisticated form of cybercrime where fraudsters use forged judicial orders to extort money from innocent citizens. Expressing deep concern, the apex court on Friday initiated a case on its own accord (suo motu), demanding answers from the Central government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to address the nationwide menace.
The move was triggered by a heart-wrenching complaint from a senior citizen couple who were swindled out of their entire life savings, a staggering ₹1.5 crores. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi declared it was “aghast” that criminals were brazenly fabricating documents in the name of the Supreme Court, complete with forged signatures of judges and official-looking seals, to execute their schemes.
“The forgery of documents and the brazen criminal misuse of the name, seal and judicial authority of this court and the High Court is a matter of grave concern,” the Bench stated. “Judicial orders with fake signatures of judges strikes at the very foundation of the public trust system on the judiciary.”
The case that brought the issue to the forefront involved a couple who, between September 1 and 16, were terrorized by criminals impersonating officials from the CBI and Intelligence Bureau over video calls. The fraudsters presented fake Supreme Court orders, including a purported asset-freezing order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), to coerce the couple into transferring their money.
How the ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam Works
Digital arrest is a form of online fraud where criminals pose as law enforcement or other government authorities. They contact a victim, often a senior citizen, and falsely claim the individual is implicated in a serious crime. Under the threat of imminent arrest and entangled in fabricated legal proceedings shown through video calls, the victims are pressured to transfer large sums of money to “settle” the fake case.
The Court noted that this was far from an isolated incident, highlighting media reports of similar scams occurring in various parts of the country. Two FIRs already registered in Ambala, Haryana, point to a pattern of organized criminal activity specifically targeting the elderly.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Supreme Court has called for a coordinated, pan-India effort to combat the scams. It has sought the assistance of the Attorney General of India and has also directed the Haryana cybercrime department to submit a status report on its investigation into the complaint filed by the senior citizens. The Court emphasized that these acts cannot be treated as routine cheating offenses but are a direct assault on the nation’s judicial system.
