Digital arrest: Mumbai Police launch awareness drive for senior citizens

Cyber Cell officials with a senior citizen. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Amid a sharp rise in ‘digital arrest' cyber frauds in the city, the Cyber Crime Wing of the Mumbai Police has launched a focused outreach programme for senior citizens. According to officials, 142 digital arrest cases were registered in Mumbai city between January and October, 2025, causing financial losses of Rs 114 crore.

To curb the trend, the Cyber Cell Unit of the Crime Branch identified 627 senior citizens living alone across Zone 1 (Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Azad Maidan, MRA Marg, Sir JJ Marg, Dongri, and Marine Drive) and conducted door-to-door visits to educate them about the modus operandi of digital arrest scams. A team of 25 officers and 27 personnel from five Regional Cyber Police Stations participated in the drive, distributing awareness pamphlets in Marathi and English and explaining preventive steps.

During the interactions, senior citizens expressed appreciation for the initiative and assured the police that they would stay alert against callers impersonating police, CBI, ED, or RBI officials, common in digital arrest frauds, police officials said. The initiative was carried out under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam, Additional CP (Crime) Shailesh Balkawade, DCP Cyber Crime (Addl. Charge), Bajrang Bansode, and ACP (Cyber Department) Irfan Sheikh.

Police reiterated key precautions, including that digital arrest does not exist in law, government agencies never detain citizens over video calls, and no money should ever be transferred in response to threats online. Victims or those receiving suspicious calls have been urged to contact the nearest police station or call 1930/100 or file complaints at cybercrime.gov.in.