Lucknow: With cyber fraud cases rising sharply—especially scams involving so-called “digital arrests”—the Lucknow Police has stressed the urgent need for a multi-layered reporting system, extensive public awareness initiatives, swift freezing of suspicious bank accounts, and focused outreach to vulnerable groups to effectively tackle the growing menace.
Speaking to the media in Lucknow, senior police officials said that digital arrest frauds are increasing steadily. In such cases, cyber criminals impersonate officials from investigative agencies or banks, using video calls and messaging platforms to intimidate victims and apply psychological pressure. Officials cautioned that the expanding use of artificial intelligence–based voice and video cloning could further intensify these threats in the near future.
The police advised citizens to independently verify any call or message claiming to be from law-enforcement agencies, banks or government departments. They reiterated that no official authority conducts arrests, investigations or financial enforcement actions through WhatsApp calls or video conferencing. In the event of suspicious communication or threats, people were urged to immediately contact official helplines or their nearest police station and avoid calling back unknown numbers.
Elderly woman saved from ‘digital arrest’ scam
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, police officials cited a recent case from the Vikas Nagar police station area. In the third week of December, a 75-year-old woman was rescued from a digital fraud attempt involving nearly ₹1.3 crore. The fraudsters, allegedly posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials, kept the woman under continuous “digital arrest” for more than four days while attempting to siphon off her lifetime savings.
Police said timely action was taken after the bank detected suspicious transactions and alerted authorities. Prompt coordination between the bank and law-enforcement agencies prevented a major financial loss, underscoring the importance of institutional cooperation in cyber crime cases.
Awareness is the strongest defence
According to the police, public awareness remains the most effective safeguard against cyber crime. Officials identified several common warning signs, including threats of arrest, urgent payment demands, requests for OTPs, PINs or personal details, unrealistic offers, and unknown links or messages. Citizens were advised to treat such communication as potential fraud.
The police also called for stronger information-sharing mechanisms between banks and digital platforms so that suspicious accounts, links and applications can be blocked quickly. They recommended the use of digital awareness tools such as short educational videos, online resources, interactive content and targeted campaigns to help people recognise fake apps, fraudulent UPI requests and scam websites.
Proposal for 112 WhatsApp bot
To strengthen early reporting and verification, Lucknow Police proposed the introduction of a 112 WhatsApp bot–based system. This platform would allow citizens to verify suspicious calls, messages or links and seek real-time assistance, potentially stopping fraud before financial damage occurs.
Need for coordinated and rapid response
Police officials noted that cyber crime today is not just a technical issue but one that exploits human emotions such as fear, urgency and confusion. Tackling it effectively requires close coordination among police, banks, telecom service providers and digital platforms, along with a strong rapid-response framework.
In the coming weeks, the Lucknow Police plans to launch special awareness and outreach programmes for senior citizens, women and digitally less-literate groups. The aim is to ensure that these sections of society are informed about emerging scam methods and feel confident seeking immediate help in suspicious situations.
