Have you ever heard of digital arrest? Digital arrest is just as frightening as it sounds. This is another sophisticated cyber scam where a fraudster impersonates either law enforcement or a government official to trick people into giving out their information and money. Once the impersonator has a victim on the line, they will falsely accuse that person of being involved with serious crimes—think money laundering or drug trafficking. The scammers then use tools such as intimidation and fake warrants to make the victims believe these are serious charges and coerce them into giving out sensitive information. These criminals will even use threats of constant video surveillance to isolate their victims and stop them from contacting family and other trusted people. Even though you know you haven’t been involved in anything illegal, these scammers are so good they can make you doubt yourself and make you believe you actually have done something wrong. They will say you are under virtual arrest or digital house arrest, not to worry though, as soon as you give them enough money all is settled and you are free to go. Never believe this!! Digital arrest is a fictional concept used strictly for fraud. Here is how it works and how to protect yourself:
📞Impersonation: Scammers call a victim claiming to be police, FBI, or any law enforcement agency. They have the ability to clone telephone numbers so the caller id reflects the scam. Once they have the victim on the line the accusations begin. Anything from money laundering to drug charges to explicit images supposedly found on computers can and will be used against the victim.
🧾Fabricated Evidence: After the scammer has their victim on the hook, they will present all sorts of fake evidence to support their claims. Fraudsters will present phony “digital warrants”, claim to have physical or digital evidence of illegal items supposedly found in a package shipped to your house, or fabricated phone records showing your phone number as having been in contact with known criminals.
😳Psychological Manipulation: Sometimes these fraudsters will demand a video call through an app such as WhatsApp, Skype, Google Meet, Telegram, etc. Victims are kept on the call for hours or even days and believe their every move is being watched. Scammers use fear and intimidation to make their victims feel like this is all true and become too afraid to hang up or try and contact anyone for help. They say victims are under digital arrest and isolate them from the outside world until their demands are met. Sometimes the criminals will keep their victims on the line and convince them to drive to their financial institution to withdraw money or send a wire transfer while they are listening to be sure it gets done.
🦹Coercion: Victims are asked for money to pay fines or security deposits. These funds are supposedly what will stop the digital arrest, and fraudsters will threaten to freeze bank accounts, suspend driver’s licenses, or cancel passports in order to endure the victim complies. Once again fear becomes a factor as victims are made to believe the nightmare won’t end until they pay. Payment is usually demanded in the form of gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or payment apps (CashApp, PayPal, Venmo)
The entire goal of this heinous scheme is for the victim to suffer from financial loss and have their identities and sensitive information stolen. The best way to avoid falling for a scam like this is don’t answer the phone to an unknown or strange number. If you do answer and find yourself on the receiving end of a digital or virtual arrest scam the first step is to not panic. Panic invokes a reaction where as remaining calm will help you to take actions. Remember, digital arrests are not real or legal. No legit member of any law enforcement will contact you demanding payment for crimes. If you know you have not been involved with anything criminal there is nothing to worry about anyway. Stay calm, hang up the phone regardless of what the caller says. Always verify the situation by checking with actual law enforcement and reporting any type of scam such as this. Never share information, don’t give out your bank account number or internet banking credentials. Do not allow yourself to be pressured or intimidated into paying a scammer! You should never pay anyone who contacts you in this manner. By knowing what to look out for and the proper steps to take, you can help to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of digital arrest or any other scam.
Thanks, and have a great fraud free weekend!
Tara Montgomery
Exchange Bank of Alabama
Fraud Specialist
(256) 691-0328
