Commissionerate Police Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Issues Urgent Advisory On Digital Arrest Scam

04 Jul 2026, 07:55 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate released a crucial public advisory on the growing threat of “Digital Arrest” scams. In their new advisory, they laid out that there’s a surge in cases where even educated professionals are getting tricked, Mentioning that no legitimate officer or agency, arrests anyone or investigates crimes over a video call or a random message.

How Scammers Operate

The advisory explains, how scammers usually work. They act like top officials and aim straight for your trust. Here’s how they typically trap people:

– Parcel Trap: Scammers pretend to be from FedEx, Customs, CBI, ED, TRAI, or the Police. They’ll insist a parcel in your name has drugs, fake passports, illegal currency, or weapons.
– Mobile Link Deception: You’ll hear your phone number’s tied to some financial racket—money laundering, SIM misuse, fraudulent texts. Cooperate or face immediate service cut-off, they threaten.
– Identity Exploitation: They claim your Aadhaar card got misused, someone issued multiple SIMs under your name, or your KYC is involved in financial crime.
– Family Coercion: Here, they rattle you with a call saying your son or daughter’s been arrested for a serious case, pushing you to ‘help’ the investigation.

Coercion Tactics and Scam Methods

The police say these conmen don’t just fool people—they use intense psychological pressure to control victims. They whip up fake documents—FIRs, arrest orders, court notices, investigation letters, even account-freeze letters. Once hooked, victims are forced to stay on video calls, told not to contact anyone (not even family), and are pressured to transfer savings to so-called “Government Reserve Accounts” or “Verification Accounts.” Silence is demanded throughout.

What To Do—And What Not To Do

Do’s:
– Hang up immediately on suspicious calls.
– Talk to your family for advice.
– Report any incidents without delay.

Dont’s:
– Never send money, break fixed deposits, or blindly follow banking instructions from strangers.
– Don’t ever share passwords, PINs, or OTPs with anyone calling unexpectedly.
– Don’t use Skype or any video platforms to “cooperate” with anyone claiming to be law enforcement.

Reporting and Helpline Details

Police urge people to act fast if something feels off. If you’re targeted, call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930, file a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in, or visit the nearest Cyber Crime & Economic Offences Police Station. For locals, here are key helpline numbers:
– Bhubaneswar CC & EO PS: 7440006709
– Cuttack CC & EO PS: 8280405695