The fake police video call
नकली पुलिस वीडियो कॉल
A caller in uniform says a parcel in your name contained drugs, and that you are now under investigation.
- Who it is aimed at
- Anyone, but it runs longest on people who live alone and have something to lose: a pension, a reputation, a job with a background check.
- How fast it moves
- Hours on the call, minutes once the transfer starts
What they say
Reconstructed from reported complaints. The wording changes; the sequence does not.
“This is Sub-Inspector Sharma, Mumbai Cyber Cell. A parcel in your name has been seized.”
“Do not disconnect this call. You are under digital arrest until verification is complete.”
“Do not inform your family. This is a confidential investigation.”
“Transfer the amount to this RBI verification account. It will be returned within 24 hours.”
How it runs
- 01The call comes from someone claiming to be police, customs or CBI
- 02They move you to a video call with a convincing backdrop and uniform
- 03You are told not to hang up or tell anyone, sometimes for hours
- 04They demand a transfer to a 'verification account' to prove innocence
No police force in India places anyone under arrest over a video call, and none will ever ask you to transfer money to clear your name. There is no such thing as digital arrest.
If this happened to you
Hang up. Money sent this way moves fast, so report it the same day.
If money left an account in the last few hours, call 1930 before anything else.
What the government calls this
The complaint form asks you to pick a category. This is the one it means.
- Impersonation and Identity Theft
- Vishing
Advisory on 'Digital Arrest' based cybercrime in India
Published 6 March 2025
Read it on cybercrime.gov.in ↗