ARE YOU UNDER DIGITAL DETENTION? #AAH
We recently did couple part video with ADG Vishwas Nangre Patil Sir, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra Police. If you have not watched this already, please watch it right now, we have got so many messages, calls, emails saying that this video saved them from getting caught in a trap!
ADG Vishwas Nangre Patil Sir has already given the best explanation of Digital Detention Fraud. I am only repeating for your benefit what he has already said.
- Imagine if you suddenly received a call from someone posing as a senior police officer (could be a popular one who is often in the news), CBI, or ED saying that you are under investigation for narcotics activity or money laundering.
- The call could also be an IVR saying that you are under investigation for another illegal activity prompting you to press further numbers to proceed. Thereby it sounds extremely professional, doesn’t raise any suspicion
- You could also be informed that a FedEx parcel in your name containing drugs or illegal passports has been seized
- It’s extremely scary for the victim at the time as the person on the phone does sound authoritative, they will share their badge number to gain your confidence
- Victim could also be traumatized by the caller claiming that your child/ loved one is involved in gruesome crime and the only way out is to answer the questions truthfully.
- You are immediately put into “digital detention/ online arrest” where you are subjected to strict interrogation online via Skype or WhatsApp calls, even on video, about your alleged involvement in criminal activities
- If on Skype video, the set-up is elaborate, right from the display profile picture to the malicious actor’s uniform, it does indeed look like police official’s office. He/ She will also be signing files, asking someone to get your papers, receive a call or two to establish authenticity.
- With deepfake technology, they can look like any senior offices. All logos are properly in place like Maharashtra Police, Delhi Police etc.
- They know your Aadhar card details, bank account details and in some cases even your shares/ MF/ demat account details. You are instructed to immediately liquify your investments and transfer all the money in to an “RBI” account until the investigation concludes
- You are prohibited from stepping out of your home, isolated, forbidden from contacting anyone, making calls, talking to family members, attending office or even stepping away from range of cameras from which you are being monitored 24×7. You are literally a prisoner in those confines
- This trauma is carried on for a period of few days until you are a wreck from psychological pressure plus your shares/investments are liquified & deposited into your savings account
- The moment you transfer the money into so called third party/ RBI account for “safe keeping” for duration of investigation, you have lost your entire life’s savings! This money is actually gone forever. By the time you get out of the shock, the trauma, the money is already transferred via a complex system of channeling via various different countries
100s of such cases of “digital detention” are emerging every single day. Very well-educated persons like double doctorate professors, industrialists, journalists have fallen prey to these scams.
Beware everyone, this scam is dangerous, it can drive you to the limits of your sanity. No senior police officer will ever ask you to transfer money to another account, none will use intimidation tactic to allegedly resolve a case involving your loved ones, nobody can stop you from speaking to your family/ lawyer or restrict you from stepping out of your own home.
TIPS TO STAY SAFE FROM “DIGITAL DETENTION”
- Treat every unknown number with a generous amount of skepticism
- Do not answer a video call on WhatsApp from any unknown number. Not just digital interrogation, it can make you vulnerable to many other cybercrimes like extortion, blackmail
- If you receive an IVR call from an alleged CBI/ ED/ Cybercrime cell, immediately hang up & report that number. High chances of it being a fraud
- Police knows how to find you & serve you a notice when required
- Anyone who begins to tell you details of your bank account details, share portfolio numbers is a huge red flag! Nobody outside of you & your bank should know these. Disconnect the call
- If there is a call saying your parcel is lying at FedEx office with drugs, definitely disconnect and report to your local police station immediately. In several of these cases you as well as the concerned police officer could be a victim of identity theft which needs to be reported
- You can fearlessly approach the cyber cell of your city or the closest police station to authenticate identity of the said officer who was attempting to digitally interrogate you
- Children and elderly need special training not to panic at such calls under any circumstances. Any fear inducing calls must be immediately double checked
- You can create safe words within family. When faced with such distress, it will help in verification by asking the fraudster to confirm the safe word
- Under any circumstances, do not proceed to transfer your money to a neutral/ RBI account
- Immediately instruct your bank that any suspicious activity must be curtailed
- LIE! – Use every means possible to get out of the situation. If at all you happen to get forcefully engaged in the conversation, simply say that you know the said officer personally or even higher up and you will find out the details.
- AI & deepfake have made it terribly simple to sound or look like another person. Even if the person on video looks like an officer you have seen in news media, don’t be scared. Hold your ground, refuse to entertain them.
- Dial 1930 immediately. Reporting financial crimes within 48 hours of the incident hugely increase chances of securing your money & freezing the transfer of money to criminal’s account.
At the base of all this is your confidence in your honesty that no one can exploit you if you haven’t engaged in any illegal activities.
Stay Aware, Stay Safe.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’
‘Akancha Srivastava Foundation’ leads India’s largest social impact initiative for cyber safety. It was founded in February 2017. It’s a not-for-profit Section 8 organization.
Honorary Board of Advisors
Foundation’s advisory board hosts – Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chattisgarh), ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh), ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra), Dr Poonam Verma (Principal- SSCBS, Delhi University)
Mission of the Foundation
The initiative aims at Education, Empowerment & Bridging of general population with the authorities on matters of cyber safety. Foundation also conducts forensics training for law enforcement.