 Scroll Your life savings and digital identity are at risk Dear Readers, Imagine the fear that strikes when your phone rings, and a voice on the other end says you're wanted for a crime. "Digital arrest," they call it, demanding compliance, money, silence. This is the reality faced by thousands of Indians – among them respected professionals, elderly retirees, and everyday people – who, despite their innocence, are losing their hard-earned savings to sophisticated scams. In just four months this year, cybercriminals stole over ₹120 crore from unsuspecting Indians. The method is disturbingly powerful: posing as police or federal officers, scammers “digitally arrest” their victims on video calls, using forged documents, false uniforms and even staged court hearings to make their deception feel real. Our story published on October 29 only scratches the surface of a far-reaching problem affecting everyday people like yourself. One victim, a scientist close to retirement, was stripped of his life’s savings. Another, an elderly businessman, was defrauded of ₹7 crore after being threatened with public disgrace. This is where Scroll needs your help.  We’re launching a series of deep investigative reports tracing these scams to their roots in Southeast Asia, where criminal syndicates enslave Indians to operate these schemes, exploiting a lack of jobs and data privacy protections. Your support can help us uncover how these frauds operate, expose those responsible, and guide our readers on protecting themselves. Support our work It could protect someone from a call that could ruin their life. Best, |
