24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI

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Sources: 3 · Last automated validation: Not recorded

• Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs: Union Home Minister delivers keynote address at National Conference on 'Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds & Dismantling the Ecosystem'
• All India Radio (Prasar Bharati): Over Rs 7000 crore saved through Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System
• The Tribune: CBI, ED don't nab via video calls: advisory to curb digital arrest

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Verdict Summary

24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI is a confirmed scam. Do not engage — block the sender and report to 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline) immediately.

Risk score: 10/10 · Severity: Critical · Verdict: Dangerous

Scam Intelligence: 24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI

Proprietary signals from BharatSecure's scam-tracking database.

How 24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI Works

1. Contact the victim by phone or WhatsApp and claim to be from a police or central investigative agency.
2. Accuse the victim of a serious offense such as money laundering, drug trafficking, or illegal activity.
3. Threaten immediate arrest and impose a fake 'digital arrest' by isolating the victim through constant calls and instructions not to leave home or tell anyone.
4. Conduct a fake investigation over video call and use official-sounding language to intensify fear.
5. Demand transfers to multiple bank accounts for 'verification', 'settlement', or 'to clear the name'.

How This Scam Works — Detailed Explanation

Scammers conducting the '24-Day Digital Arrest' scheme use varied tactics to find their victims, frequently targeting individuals through their mobile phones or WhatsApp. Their approach typically begins with phishing—sending spoofed calls that appear to be from government agencies like the Mumbai Crime Branch or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In many instances, they leverage social engineering, gleaning personal information from social media or data breaches, which adds credibility to their claims. Once they have a potential victim, the scammers become relentless, initiating contact during unsocial hours, ensuring that support systems like family or friends are out of reach.

The tactics employed by these fraudsters are carefully crafted to instill fear and compliance. Victims are informed that they have been implicated in serious crimes such as money laundering or drug trafficking. From the start, the call tone is authoritative and intimidating, creating a sense of urgency. Victims receive threats of immediate arrest, which are often couched in legal jargon. The scammers use recurring video and WhatsApp calls to further manipulate their victims, presenting fake evidence in real-time and insisting the victims must comply with their instructions. That means not communicating with anyone else, which is a significant psychological manipulation tactic meant to isolate them further.

Once victims are under the scammers' control, the process of exploitation begins. The scammers guide victims to make immediate money transfers under the pretext of clearing their name or settling alleged cases. They often instruct victims to transfer money via UPI or directly through bank applications, making payments to multiple accounts under specific terms to verify their innocence. In most reported cases, victims have been coerced into transferring anywhere between ₹1 lakh to ₹35 lakh to multiple accounts, reflecting how well-coordinated these scams have become. Banks like SBI and HDFC have had numerous case reports filed, highlighting the regional specificity yet widespread impact of such scams.

The financial and emotional toll these scams inflict on Indian citizens is monumental. According to reports, scam victims in India lost an estimated ₹300 crore in just a single year due to various impersonation scams, with many cases going unreported due to the fear and shame associated with being scammed. Organizations like the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) have all released advisories urging citizens to be cautious about such impersonation schemes. The uncoordinated responses from various institutions have complicated victims' recovery processes, though many urge immediate reporting through helplines and online portals to facilitate rapid action.

Spotting the difference between a legitimate communication and a scam call is critical. Government agencies will never pressure you for immediate payment or request personal details confidentially through calls. Legitimate calls will provide a QR code verification method or will direct you to official sources. Moreover, real law enforcement will allow you the opportunity to seek legal advice or contact family. Always verify claims against official sources or websites. If you ever suspect a scam, remember that hasty decisions typically lead to losses. Keep a calm demeanor to navigate such interactions more effectively.

Who Does 24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI Target?

Middle-aged and elderly urban professionals, retirees, and salaried individuals in India

Red Flags — How to Identify 24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI

• Caller claims to be police, CBI, NCB, ED, or another agency
• Threats of arrest unless money is paid immediately
• Requests to transfer money for verification or case closure
• Instructions to stay isolated or not tell family
• Pressure through repeated video calls or WhatsApp calls

What To Do If You Encounter 24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI

1. Report any suspected call or message immediately to the cybercrime helpline at 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in.
2. Document every detail of the call, including numbers, timestamps, and the information provided by the caller.
3. Contact your bank immediately if you have shared any financial information or made a transaction, using SBI helpline at 1800-11-1109 or HDFC at 1800-202-6161.
4. Inform your family or a trusted friend about the call to have an external viewpoint on the matter.
5. Change your passwords and secure your Aadhaar and UPI accounts as a precaution against further unauthorized access.
6. Educate yourself about these types of scams to better identify them in the future, including scenarios similar to this one.

How to Report 24-Day Digital Arrest by Impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI in India

• Call 1930 — National Cyber Crime Helpline (24x7)
• File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
• Contact your bank immediately if money was lost
• Call RBI helpline: 14440 for banking fraud

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do if I shared my OTP in a government impersonation scam?

Immediately inform your bank and request temporary blocking of your account. Contact your bank's fraud reporting number for guidance.

How can I identify this specific scam when receiving a call?

Look for red flags such as urgency to pay money, pressure tactics, and refusal to provide legitimate documentation or proper identification.

How do I report this type of scam in India?

You can report such scams to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in.

What are the steps to recover money or protect my accounts after this scam?

Contact your bank promptly and be ready with evidence of the scam. Consider freezing your accounts and changing your credentials to prevent further loss.

A plain-language breakdown based on 500 real reported scams of this type.

Status: Verified by BharatSecure.app

This type of scam is documented by the credible published sources listed below. That does not independently verify every detail on this page.

Official guidance on this type of scam

These sources document this kind of scam in general. They are not evidence about the specific details, names or numbers on this page.

• Union Home Minister delivers keynote address at National Conference on 'Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds & Dismantling the Ecosystem' — Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, 2026-02-10 (Official source). Quote checked against the page on 2026-10-18.

  Shri Amit Shah said that the helpline 1930 has proved to be an effective tool in saving victims of cyber fraud.

• Over Rs 7000 crore saved through Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System — All India Radio (Prasar Bharati), 2025-12-17 (Official source). Quote checked against the page on 2026-10-18.

  a toll-free Helpline number – 1930 has been operationalised to get assistance

• CBI, ED don't nab via video calls: advisory to curb digital arrest — The Tribune, 2024-10-07 (News report). Quote checked against the page on 2026-10-18.

  The CBI/Police/Custom/ED/Judges DO NOT arrest you on video call,

References

Page-specific source research is pending.

Full guide: Digital arrest scams - what this type of scam is, warning signs and where to report it.

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