In a decisive move against rising cyber fraud, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has blocked over 17,000 WhatsApp accounts allegedly involved in digital arrest scams. Sources revealed that many of these accounts were traced to countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, where they were reportedly used for fraudulent activities.

This crackdown was spearheaded by the Home Ministry's cybercrime coordination centre, acting on complaints submitted by victims through online platforms. The Ministry reviewed these complaints, identified suspicious accounts, and instructed WhatsApp to take action.

The action follows an investigative report by India Today, which uncovered operations of fraudulent call centres based in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. These call centres, often located in Chinese-owned casinos in Cambodia, are linked to large-scale cyber fraud. Investigations also revealed a disturbing connection to human trafficking, where Indian citizens are lured to Cambodia with job promises and then coerced into executing online scams.

"Digital arrest" scams involve fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials, such as CBI agents, income tax officers, or customs agents, to extort money. Victims are intimidated with false accusations of illegal activities and pressured to transfer large sums of money.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently issued a public warning, urging citizens to stay vigilant and report such incidents to the cyber helpline.

Home Ministry cyber wing sources estimate that scammers have been siphoning off approximately ₹6 crore daily through these frauds. Between January and October this year, digital arrest scams accounted for ₹2,140 crore in losses, with 92,334 cases reported during the period.