India, Aug. 4 -- Digital arrest scams are becoming more sophisticated in 2026, with fraudsters combining impersonation, forged documents, video calls and remote-access tools to pressure victims into making immediate payments.

The scams rely heavily on fear and urgency. Fraudsters pose as police officers, CBI or Enforcement Directorate officials, telecom authorities, customs officers, cybercrime investigators and even court officials. They then claim that the victim's Aadhaar, PAN, bank account, mobile number or a courier parcel has been linked to a criminal investigation.

Victims are often told that they face arrest or that their bank accounts will be frozen unless they pay a 'security deposit', 'verification fee' or another form of pay...