Mr. Krishnan was alone in his Mylapore flat on a Tuesday afternoon when his phone rang with a video call from an unknown number. The man on screen wore a police uniform, sat in front of a wall bearing the CBI emblem, and told the seventy-one-year-old retired bank manager that a parcel booked in his name had been intercepted at the Mumbai airport, containing banned substances and fake passports. The officer said he was now under "digital arrest" and could not disconnect the call until his identity was verified.
Here is the one fact every family in Tamil Nadu needs to know. There is no such thing as a legal digital arrest in India. No police officer, no CBI agent, no RAW official, and no court can detain a person over a video call. No law permits it. The moment someone says those words, the call itself is the crime.
Yet, the scam works often enough that Tamil Nadu's Cyber Crime wing has logged close to three hundred such cases in a recent year-to-date period, with more than sixty arrests made so far.
Why Seniors Become the Target
Elderly parents living alone, like Krishnan, are exactly who these callers look for. A lifetime of respecting uniforms and institutions makes it hard to imagine that a man dressed as a policeman could be lying. Many seniors also did not grow up navigating video calls and digital verification, so a screen full of official-looking logos can feel more convincing than it should.
Also Read: Mobility Challenges in Seniors and the Case for Long-Term Care
The Digital Trail Scammers Follow
Investigators believe that these fraud rings build a profile before they ever dial. A birthday photo posted by a grandchild, a video of a family wedding, an old clip shared on social media, all of it becomes raw material. Police have also flagged cases involving voice cloning technology, where a familiar-sounding voice was used to make a follow-up call seem more credible, another reminder that what families post publicly can end up working against them.
Two recent Coimbatore cases show how costly this becomes. A retired doctor lost close to ninety-eight lakh rupees in August 2026 after a WhatsApp video call from someone impersonating a CBI officer convinced him to transfer funds "for verification".
Earlier in the year, a retired government employee in the same city lost about nineteen lakh rupees to a nearly identical script. Neither man was reckless. Both were simply cornered by fear and unfamiliar procedure.
Red Flags Playing Out in Real Time
Krishnan's daughter Deepa later pieced together the red flags. The caller invented a case number on the spot. He insisted Krishnan tell no one, not even family, until the matter was "resolved". He refused to let Krishnan hang up and call back through any official number. And at the centre of it all sat one demand that no genuine investigation ever makes over a video call: a request to move money immediately to prove innocence.
What to Do if a Parent Gets Such a Call
If this happens, the safest response is also the simplest.
- Hang up immediately. No real officer will ever penalise someone for ending a suspicious call.
- Call a family member right away and describe exactly what was said.
- Never transfer money, however convincing the uniform or paperwork on screen looked.
- Report the call as soon as possible, ideally within the first hour, since faster reporting improves the odds of freezing any transferred funds. (TN Police Cyber Crime helpline: 1930/www.cybercrime.gov.in)
Also Read: Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plans in India: Coverage, Exclusions & Buying Guide
Protecting Parents Before the Call Ever Comes
Deepa now checks her father's social media privacy settings every few months, since even a proud grandfather's post can hand a scammer material to work with. The family also agreed on a safe word to be used whenever either needs to confirm the other is really who they say they are.
Most importantly, they agreed on one rule beforehand: no real authority figure will ever ask for money over a video call. Deciding this calmly in advance makes it far easier to recognise the lie when someone is shouting it down the phone.
Dealing with the Trauma
Scams like these leave a mark long after the call ends, often showing up as new anxiety, withdrawal, or a reluctance to answer the phone at all. This is where having someone present matters.
Sirina's caregivers spend regular, unhurried time with seniors and are often the first to notice when a parent seems shaken, quieter than usual, or afraid in ways that are easy for a busy family to miss from a distance.
To learn more about home care and companionship support in Chennai, visit https://sirinahealth.com/, call +91 9025 887777, or write to info@sirinahealth.com.
Digital Arrest Scams FAQs for Seniors and Families
1. What is a digital arrest scam?
A digital arrest scam is a fraud in which criminals impersonate police officers, CBI officials, or other authorities and falsely claim that a person is involved in a crime. They may use video calls, fake documents, uniforms, and official-looking backgrounds to pressure victims into transferring money.
2. Is digital arrest legal in India?
No. There is no legal procedure in India that allows a police officer or other authority to place someone under “digital arrest” through a video call.
3. How do digital arrest scammers target senior citizens?
Scammers may use personal information available online, impersonate government officials, create fear about a supposed criminal case, and pressure seniors into following instructions without consulting family members.
4. What are the common warning signs of a digital arrest scam?
Warning signs include being told you are under “digital arrest,” being forced to stay on a video call, being instructed not to contact family, being given a fake case number, and being asked to transfer money for verification or to prove innocence.
5. Do genuine police officers ask people to transfer money over a video call?
No. A demand to transfer money to prove innocence or complete an investigation over a video call is a major warning sign of a scam.
6. What should I do if I receive a digital arrest call?
End the call, inform a trusted family member, avoid transferring money or sharing sensitive information, and report the incident promptly through the appropriate cybercrime reporting channels.
