Case Explained: Multi-Layered Reporting And Public Awareness Crucial to Curb Cyber Crime: Lucknow Police – Legal Perspective

Amid a recent surge in cyber fraud, particularly cases involving “digital arrest,” the Lucknow Police has underlined the need for a multi-channel reporting mechanism, wide-ranging public awareness campaigns, rapid blocking of suspicious bank accounts, and proactive outreach to vulnerable sections of society to effectively counter the growing threat.

Speaking to the media in Lucknow on Wednesday (December 31, 2025), police officials said the risk of digital arrest scams is increasing steadily, with fraudsters impersonating officials from investigative agencies or banks to intimidate victims and exert psychological pressure through video calls and messaging platforms. They warned that the growing use of AI-based voice and video spoofing could further amplify risks in the near future.

Authorities advised citizens to carry out independent verification before responding to any call or video message. They reiterated that police, banks, or government agencies do not conduct enforcement actions via WhatsApp or video calls. In case of threats or suspicious communication, people should immediately contact official helplines or the nearest police station, and avoid calling back the number from which the call originated.

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Elderly woman rescued from ‘digital arrest’ fraud

Highlighting the seriousness of such scams, the police cited an incident from the third week of December in which a 75-year-old woman in the Vikas Nagar police station area was saved from a ₹1.3-crore digital fraud. Fraudsters, posing as officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), allegedly kept the woman under so-called “digital arrest” for over four days while attempting to extract her lifetime savings.

Police said swift action was taken after the bank flagged suspicious transactions. Timely intervention helped prevent a major financial loss, underscoring the importance of close coordination between banks and law-enforcement agencies.

Awareness remains the strongest defence

Police officials emphasised that public awareness is the most effective weapon against cyber crime. Threats of arrest, urgent demands for payment, requests for sensitive information such as OTPs or PINs, “too-good-to-be-true” offers, and unknown links or messages were identified as key red flags that citizens must learn to recognise.

They also called for greater information-sharing between digital platforms and banks, enabling suspicious accounts, apps and links to be proactively blocked. In addition, the use of digital awareness tools—including short videos, online toolkits, interactive games and targeted campaigns—was recommended to help people identify fake apps, fraudulent UPI prompts and scam storefronts.

Proposal for a 112 WhatsApp bot

The police advocated the introduction of a 112 WhatsApp bot-based system, allowing citizens to quickly verify suspicious calls, messages or links and seek real-time assistance when needed. Such a system, they said, could reduce delays in reporting and help stop fraud before victims suffer losses.

Need for institutional coordination and rapid response

According to officials, cyber crime is no longer just a technological challenge; it increasingly exploits human psychology—fear, urgency and confusion. Addressing this threat requires stronger coordination among police, banks, telecom companies and digital platforms, along with a robust rapid-response framework.

The Lucknow Police said that in the coming weeks, special outreach programmes would be rolled out for senior citizens, women and digitally less-literate groups, ensuring they are informed about evolving scam techniques and feel confident seeking help promptly in suspicious situations.