‘Digital House Arrest’: Delhi Police Issue Warning Amid Raising Concerns on New Cyber Crime

New Delhi: Cyber crime has emerged as a major challenge before law enforcement ncies amid growing vances and vast use of techlogies in everyday life. Moreover, changing dynamics of cyber crime has me it more difficult to deal with. Amid rising challenges of cyber crime, cyber crooks have w opted a new modus operandi called 'digital house arrest'. With over 200 such cases being reported every month in national capital, Delhi police are up against serious concerns emerging in form of new cyber threats.

term ‘digital house arrest’ is new to people, which has led to trapping of incent people and losing ir hard earned money to swindlers in large numbers.

As per a senior police officer, 'digital house arrest' refers to a fraud where impostors impersonating law enforcement officers deceive victims into believing that ir bank account, SIM card, Ahaar card, or or cards linked to ir bank account has been used unlawfully, reports news ncy PTI.

Fraudsters virtually restrain victims from moving out of house coercing m into paying money, say police

fraudsters n virtually restrain victims from moving out of house and coerce m into paying m money, officer said.

"Digital house arrest has become a major concern ways. However, our special unit only investigates those cases where cheated amount is above Rs 50 lakh," a senior police officer of Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police said.

officer said such 'cyber thugs' are technically sound and kw how to convince ir targets and drain ir hard-earned money.

According to report by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cases of cyber crime in national capital nearly doubled in 2022.

number of such cases rose from 345 in 2021 to 685 cases in 2022, NCRB's comprehensive crime data for 2022 showed.

In 2020, count was much lower with only 166 cyber crime cases, it ded.

Crooks hack and drain bank accounts

As per news ncy, giving an example of a recent case, officer said, "A man was getting rey for his office on December 30, last year when he got a call at around 8.43 am. caller took his name and said he was speaking from Crime Branch of Mumbai. He told victim that his Ahar card was used to transport drugs in some courier packs which were seized by crime branch." accused also started interrogating him, which created fear in mind of victim. y also asked victim to t move out of his house for around 8 hours during "questioning", officer said.

" victim h told police that he heard some voices coming from behind which were voices similar to wireless rio transmission of police. Later accused asked him to downlo a Skype application and remote access to desktop. A man appeared before him wearing a cop dress, interrogated him for hours, and asked victim to show his bank account details to see if he h received any 'foreign funds'. Meanwhile, y hacked his system and drained his account completely," said officer.

complainant later lodged an FIR and police are furr investigating matter.

Ar police officer said several such cases are being registered in national capital region of late with over 200 registered every month.

se fraudsters use translation tools for better English to send threatening letters and forge letterhes of police departments. y usually procure Ahar cards from or sources, officer said.

"y usually target old people. In such situations, victims must immediately call police helpline numbers to report matter and to get help," said officer.