HASAN HADI /Dehradun
A total 37 cases of digital arrest have come to light in Uttarakhand during the past five years, according to data shared by the Special Task Force (STF). A total of 18 such cases were reported in the State during 2025 while 18 cases were also reported during 2024. So far, the biggest digital arrest fraud case in Uttarakhand involves an amount of Rs seven crore with there being a sharp rise in reported digital arrest cases since 2024.
Senior superintendent of police, STF, Navneet Singh Bhullar said that awareness programmes are conducted from time to time to educate people about digital arrest scams. He added that police stations across the district also regularly organise such awareness programmes to spread information among the public. It may be noted that digital arrest is a type of scam in which fraudsters threaten victims on video call or phone and instruct them not to contact anyone and to completely cut off communication with others. In such cases, the fraudsters pose as officers from law enforcement agencies and scare the victim by showing the threat of arrest. They then demand money in the name of verification or settlement.
Bhullar said that awareness programmes are being conducted consistently and clarified that the police or any government agency never makes video calls or demands money. He advised that if anyone receives such a call, they should immediately inform the police.
