Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 27: In a bid to make gullible people aware about the increasing cybercrime, particularly the current threat of “digital arrests,” the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday noted how the fear of threat of arrests through video call or e-mails has hit all sections of the society and cautioned that no government investigative agency ever establishes contact over phone or video call to demand money or probe people.
He urged the people to adopt the mantra of “stop, think and take action” when they faced such a scam. “Beware of Digital Arrest frauds. No investigative agency will ever contact you by phone or video call for such an investigation,” Mr Modi said and asked people to dial 1930 to connect with the national cyber helpline or connect with its portal and also inform police about such a crime.
Addressing through his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast on Sunday, Mr Modi said probe agencies were working with states to deal with the issue but added that awareness was essential in protecting oneself from this crime. The Prime Minister played a representative video to show how such criminals pose as probe agency officials to prey on people’s fear after gathering detailed information about their potential victims. They should record such conversations and also take screenshots, he said touching on the crime which has been frequently reported.
“…Under digital arrest fraud, callers portray themselves as police, CBI, RBI or narcotics officials, and they confidently talk. People asked me to talk about this in Mann Ki Baat. You need to understand this. The first step is your personal information. They collect all your personal information. 2nd Step is the atmosphere of fear. They will scare you so much that you won’t even be able to think. Step 3- The time pressure…Victims of digital arrest are from all sections and ages. Many people have lost lakhs of their hard-earned money. If you ever get a call like this, don’t be afraid. You should know that no investigating agency does such an interrogation over the phone or video call,” he said.
Mr Modi pointed out that such cases have emerged as a menace across India with fraudsters posing as CBI officials in most cases. It happened to Vardhman Group chairman SP Oswal, who was allegedly duped into transferring Rs 7 crore to bank accounts of cybercriminals under “digital custody.” They contacted him on Skype and told him he was a “suspect in a money laundering case.”
In another case, fraudsters impersonated Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud and held a fake Supreme Court hearing via Skype, citing a money-laundering probe against Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
Mr Modi also announced that his government would celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and freedom fighter Birsa Munda, and urged the countrymen to become a part of the campaign. “The government has decided to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of these great personalities at the national level. I would urge all of you to become a part of this campaign.”
PM Modi further said both Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda were great men who had different challenges but their vision was the same. “India has faced some challenges in every era. Today in Mann Ki Baat, I will discuss two such great heroes who had courage and foresight. The country has decided to celebrate their 150th birth anniversary. Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary year will begin on October 31. After this, Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary year will begin on November 15. Both these great men had different challenges but their vision was the same, ‘Unity of the country’,” Mr Modi said.
He further recalled his visit to Ulihatu village in Jharkhand, the birthplace of Birsa Munda, on his birth anniversary last year. “If you ask me what the most memorable moments of my life have been, I remember many incidents, but there is one moment that is very special. That moment was when, on the 15th of November last year, I had gone to Ulihatu village in Jharkhand, the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, on his birth anniversary,” he added.
In his broadcast, the Prime Minister also lauded the increasing impact Indian talents have been making in the world of animation. He said a wave of creative energy is sweeping India. ‘Made in India’ and ‘Made by India’ is shining brightly in the world of animation, he added.
The Prime Minister said Indian animation characters like Chhota Bheem, Krishna and Motu Patlu have become widely popular. Indian content and creativity are being liked across the globe, he added. “India is on way to creating revolution in animation, and Indian games are also becoming popular,” Mr Modi said.
The effort for an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ is also making strides in every sector, he said, noting that the country was exporting its defence products to over 85 countries now.
