HDFC Bank today through a media release informed that an alert HDFC Bank’s staff in Deesa, Gujarat, was able to safeguard ₹ 59.67 lakhs of a customer preventing him from being cheated by fraudster via the digital arrest scam.
An alert staff of HDFC Bank’s Dessa branch noticed an abnormal credit in one of the accounts which was not active. The staff promptly initiated an investigation upon recognising discrepancies in the transaction pattern.
Through a series of swift and decisive actions, the Bank was able to freeze the account and prevent the fraudulent withdrawal of funds. A complaint was lodged with the Police for further investigation. Cyber Crime Police, Ahmedabad appreciated HDFC Bank branch staff’s efforts to prevent the fraud and safeguard the victim’s money.
What is Digital Arrest
In a digital arrest scam, fraudsters target individuals or businesses, posing as law enforcement or government officials. Victims are threatened with a digital arrest warrant for alleged tax evasion, regulatory violations or financial misconduct. The fraudsters ask for payment in the form of ‘settlement fee’ or ‘penalty’ to withdraw the digital arrest warrant. Once the payment is made, the fraudsters disappear, leaving no trace of their identity. The victims are left with a monetary loss and sometimes an identity theft, due to the personal details shared with the fraudsters.
Tips to protect yourself from Digital Arrest Fraud
Real government officials or law enforcement agency will never ask for payment or banking details.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency to make you act quickly without thinking.
Do not share sensitive information such as KYC details, bank details like – user ID password, card details, CVV, OTPs or PIN number, with anyone.
Always verify the officer’s identity by independently contacting the government official or law enforcement agency.
Look for errors in documents and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
Report such suspected fraudulent communication on Department of Telecommunication’s Chakshu Portal – www.sancharsaathi.gov.in immediately.
In the event that a person becomes the victim of any online fraud, they should immediately report the unauthorised transactions to the Bank in order to get the payment channel blocked, i.e., cards/UPI/net banking to safeguard against future losses. Customers should also file a complaint by calling 1930 helpline number started by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well as submit a complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal https://www.cybercrime.gov.in