The customer was being cheated via the 'Digital Arrest' Fraud
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 26 August, 2026: An alert HDFC Bank employee at the Rohini Sector 9 branch (New Delhi) of the Bank, helped save an elderly couple (Bank’s customers) from being defrauded of Rs 1.12 crore through the ‘digital arrest’ fraud.
An elderly customer along with his spouse visited HDFC Bank’s Rohini Sector 9 branch in New Delhi, with a request to liquidate their FDs worth Rs1.12 crore and transfer entire proceeds to an unknown third-party account immediately. Since the elderly couple looked anxious, the branch manager felt something might be amiss. Observing that the customer was active on a call with someone who was frequently taking updates on the progress of payment, the branch manager suspected that it may be a case of cyber fraud (digital arrest). Acting promptly, the branch manager engaged with the customers and sensitised them about the modus operandi of such frauds and assisted the customer in blocking the numbers and reporting the case.
The fraudsters tried to dupe the customer by posing as police officers. Dressed as police officers during the video call, they displayed a fabricated arrest warrant. They mentioned that the customer’s account was being used for money laundering and the case was being investigated further. The fraudsters then asked that the customer liquidate their FDs and transfer the amount to an account.
What is Digital Arrest
In a digital arrest scam, fraudsters target individuals or businesses, posing as law enforcement or government officials. Victims are threatened with a digital arrest warrant for alleged tax evasion, regulatory violations or financial misconduct. The fraudsters ask for payment in the form of ‘settlement fee’ or ‘penalty’ to withdraw the digital arrest warrant. Once the payment is made, the fraudsters disappear, leaving no trace of their identity. The victims are left with a monetary loss and sometimes an identity theft, due to the personal details shared with the fraudsters.
Tips to protect yourself from Digital Arrest Fraud
An officer's identity should be verified by independently contacting government officials or a law enforcement agency.
In the event of a falling prey to an online fraud, the victim should immediately report the unauthorised transactions to the Bank in order to get the payment channel blocked, i.e., cards/UPI/net banking to safeguard against future losses. Customers should also file a complaint by calling 1930 helpline number started by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well as submit a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal https://www.cybercrime.gov.in
