9,400 WhatsApp Accounts Banned As India Tightens Grip On Digital Arrest Scams

The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that a multi-agency framework involving telecom regulators, financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, and digital platforms is being implemented to tackle the growing menace of “digital arrest” scams in the country.

In a detailed status report filed through Attorney General R. Venkataramani , the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) said coordinated action is underway following the Supreme Court’s February 9 directions in a suo motu case on online frauds.

Officials said fraudsters typically contact victims through WhatsApp calls or video calls , impersonating police, CBI, or government officials . Victims are falsely informed they are under investigation and threatened with “digital arrest,” a term used to create psychological pressure.

Scammers often use fake uniforms, forged documents, and staged video calls to appear authentic. Victims are then coerced into isolation and forced to transfer money under the guise of “verification” or “account safety,” usually through bank transfers or UPI channels rather than WhatsApp Pay.

WhatsApp has reportedly banned 9,400 accounts linked to such frauds and launched automated systems to detect scam networks, block accounts using official logos, and flag suspicious or newly created accounts. It is also developing alerts for unknown callers and features to hide profile photos of suspicious contacts.

The Department of Telecommunications and service providers are working on a mechanism to block fraudulent SIM cards within 2–3 hours , alongside a proposed Biometric Identity Verification System (BIVS) to monitor SIM issuance, targeted for rollout by December 2026. WhatsApp is also planning SIM-binding security features .

The Reserve Bank of India has issued an SOP enabling banks to temporarily freeze suspicious transactions linked to money mule networks. The CBI will handle major cases involving losses above ₹10 crore , and is already probing several high-value frauds. The Centre has urged the Supreme Court to ensure coordinated implementation of these measures across telecom, banking, and digital platforms to curb cyber-enabled financial frauds.