In chilling 'digital detention' scams, cybercriminals pose as cops, CBI, ED

In early April, an elderly man from Malabar Hill began to compulsively share his location with an unknown individual every few hours. He went about liquidating fixed deposits that comprised his life's savings without saying a word to anyone. His family was oblivious to the nightmare unfolding until it was too late -- he had been defrauded of over Rs 2 crore in a scam involving fake digital detentions.
Cybercriminals are masquerading as law enforcement officers and deploying chillingly simple yet effective methods to trick unsuspecting victims. Posing as policemen, CBI, or ED officers, these fraudsters launch online interrogations, typically through platforms like WhatsApp or Skype, where victims can be monitored over the camera. The victims are isolated, forbidden from contacting anyone, and subjected to a barrage of intimidation to extract money. "Interrogations" could range from a few hours to two or three days, and the victims are told that they are under "digital detention".
In the Malabar Hill case, the elderly man was given a "digital bond" of confidentiality by the fraudsters. He was asked to share his location so they could keep tabs on his whereabouts whenever he stepped out. He liquidated his fixed deposits on being served a "letter from the Supreme Court" requiring him to submit all assets for inspection by law enforcement agencies.
In another case, a south Mumbai resident was forced to send selfies every hour to his cyber captors. The fraudsters claimed that his Aadhaar card was implicated in money laundering and he had been "digitally detained". He was coerced into paying Rs 13 lakh to settle.
Scammers often begin by casting a wide net, calling up individuals with claims of drugs being found in their courier packages, or their personal information being misused for money laundering. The victims are then subjected to a high-pressure interrogation, complete with threats of legal action or arrest. In one incident, fraudsters told the victim that his mobile number popped up during the investigation of a criminal case involving a former state minister from the NCP.
The emotional toll on victims is immense. A homemaker, targeted in a similar scam, was reduced to tears after being subjected to a barrage of abuse. She was threatened that her explicit videos had been leaked, leaving her shattered. "The use of profanity by scammers is a tactic to mimic aggressive demeanour often attributed to police officers in movies," said cyber investigator Ritesh Bhatia. It would increase the victim's belief in the legitimacy of the situation.
To enhance their credibility, cybercriminals have been known to create elaborate setups, resembling police stations, complete with men donning uniforms and official-looking logos. In one instance, scammers used a fake profile picture of a policeman on WhatsApp and called up a businessman, accusing him of being involved in human trafficking. They sent him a fabricated arrest warrant and seizure order via an online link. One of the scammers even impersonated a Supreme Court judge in a call with the victim. The fraudsters convinced the businessman that he needed to undergo a "fund legalization process" and deposit his money in an RBI account. The scam, which unfolded over seven to eight hours, resulted in a loss of Rs 1.3 crore.
Another victim, a doctor, was compelled to apply for a pre-approved loan and transfer the full amount to the fraudsters, who had told her that she was under digital detention and maintained a constant watch on her through a Skype call.
"When faced with a situation that seems suspicious, don't hesitate to ask too many questions," advised Bhatia. "Fraudsters often become uncomfortable when confronted with scrutiny and will typically end the call abruptly," he said. Bhatia also pointed out the irony of our heightened awareness in offline situations compared to our online complacency.