Fraudsters attempt ‘digital arrest’ using Bengaluru police commissioner’s fake seal

Bengaluru : A new form of cyber fraud has surfaced in Bengaluru where scammers allegedly tried to trap a woman by threatening her with a fake “digital arrest” using forged documents bearing the seal of the city police commissioner.

Police said the accused attempted to impersonate officials from the Bengaluru City Police and used fabricated legal documents to intimidate the victim.

According to the complaint, the woman received a call from unknown persons who claimed that her mother was involved in illegal activities and was under investigation. The callers initially spoke to her through an audio call and later switched to a video call to create the impression of an official interrogation.

To make the claim appear legitimate, the fraudsters allegedly used documents carrying a forged seal and signature of Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh. They also produced a fake arrest warrant in the name of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Karnataka.

The scammers further attempted to scare the woman by sending documents that they claimed were issued under the orders of the Supreme Court of India. They reportedly demanded her location and warned that officials would soon arrive to arrest her.

However, the woman became suspicious after closely examining the documents and noticing inconsistencies. She immediately reported the matter to the cyber crime police instead of responding to the demands.

A formal complaint was submitted through the official email of the cyber crime wing and also registered on the national cyber crime portal.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Imam Qasim said the police do not conduct arrests through video calls or online communications.

“Police will never carry out a digital arrest or demand money through video calls. People must not panic when they receive such calls and should verify the information with authorities,” he said.

He advised citizens to contact the national cyber fraud helpline number 1930 if they encounter such scams.

Police officials said fraudsters have been continuously modifying their methods to deceive people. Earlier, scammers often used the names of central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation or police departments from other states, but they are now misusing the names of local authorities to gain trust.

Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and immediately report any suspicious calls or messages claiming to be from law enforcement agencies.