CBI Introduces Real-Time Notice Verification Bot ‘ABHAY’ Against Cyber Fraud

The Central Bureau of Investigation has launched an AI-powered chatbot named ABHAY to help citizens verify notices issued in the agency’s name and protect them from rising “digital arrest” scams, officials said.

Describing it as a first-of-its-kind real-time notice verification system , the CBI said the tool has been developed in-house to counter cyber fraudsters impersonating law enforcement agencies through forged legal notices and fake investigations.

According to the agency, ABHAY enables users to instantly check whether a notice claiming to be from the CBI is genuine or fraudulent. The chatbot can be accessed through the official CBI website.

Explaining the process, a CBI spokesperson said a person receiving a notice in the agency’s name must visit the website, click on the ABHAY logo, complete OTP verification using their mobile number, and upload a scanned copy of the notice. The system then analyses the document and provides real-time verification, identifying it as either authentic or potentially fake.

The CBI said the initiative comes amid a sharp rise in cyber frauds involving so-called “digital arrests”, where criminals pose as officials from investigative agencies and intimidate victims into transferring money.

Officials noted that fraudsters often send forged notices accusing individuals of involvement in criminal activities before conducting a sham legal process through video calls and continuous surveillance. The agency clarified that “digital arrest” has no legal existence under Indian law .

The spokesperson warned that advancements in technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and deepfakes have made it increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to distinguish genuine communication from fabricated content.

The CBI said ABHAY is aimed at strengthening public awareness and preventing cybercriminals from exploiting fear and misinformation.