For someone based in Lucknow, this page sets out, in general terms, how digital arrest scams works for someone in Lucknow.
What a 'digital arrest' scam is, why it is not a real legal process, and the Supreme Court directions issued since October 2025.
The legal position
As a general rule, a 'digital arrest' is not a recognised legal process in India. No police officer, court, or enforcement agency can arrest or detain a person over a video call.
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of digital arrest scams on 17 Oct 2025, after an Ambala couple lost ₹1.05 crore to forged Supreme Court and Enforcement Directorate orders.
On 1 Dec 2025, the Supreme Court directed a pan-India CBI probe, including into bankers who opened mule accounts used in such frauds.
On 9 Feb 2026, the Supreme Court described the scale of losses (reported at ₹54,000 crore) as 'robbery or dacoity' and directed the Centre to frame a standard operating procedure and compensation framework.
On 4 Aug 2026, the Supreme Court directed the RBI to issue a debit-hold SOP, and states to run the MHA's grievance (GRM) and money-restoration (MRM) modules and adopt e-Zero FIR.
Where this applies in Lucknow
- The High Court with jurisdiction is the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench.
- Matters at the district level are generally handled at the Lucknow Civil Court, Qaiserbagh.
- The relevant police authority is the Lucknow Police Commissionerate.
How this generally works
Broadly, the stages involved are these.
If you receive such a call
End the call. No genuine agency conducts an arrest, detention, or 'investigation' over video call or demands money to avoid one.
Report immediately
Call the national cyber helpline 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in as soon as possible — speed matters for freezing any transferred funds.
Preserve evidence
Keep screenshots, call recordings if available, and transaction records before reporting.
Common pitfalls
A handful of issues come up repeatedly in practice.
- Believing that cooperating or paying will 'close' a fabricated case — these scams rely on panic, not any real legal process.
- Deleting messages or screenshots before reporting, which removes evidence that helps trace the fraud.
- Waiting beyond the reporting window before contacting your bank — see our page on reporting timelines and liability for why speed affects your legal position.
For related reading, see Bank Account Freezes in Cyber Fraud Cases: An Unsettled Area, Reporting Cyber Fraud: Timelines and Your Liability, and Where to Report Cyber Fraud: Portals, Helplines, and e-Zero FIR.
If you are weighing a decision on this, a short consultation can help map out the options.
The content above explains how the law generally works; it is not legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for advice on your particular facts.
This page provides general information about the law in India and is not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, please consult a qualified advocate.