National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian on Tuesday, 9 June called for stronger legal and institutional safeguards against digital arrest scams, warning that these cyber-enabled frauds pose a growing threat to the rights, dignity and security of Indian citizens. The remarks came at an Open House Discussion on 'Safeguarding Human Rights against Digital Arrest Scams' organised by the NHRC in hybrid mode in New Delhi.

Scale of the Threat

Justice Ramasubramanian highlighted that Indians have reportedly lost approximately ₹52,976 crore to cybercrimes over the past six years. Of this, nearly 8% of losses were attributed specifically to digital arrest scams — a scheme in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials and coerce victims into transferring money by exploiting fear and intimidation.

'Victims face significant challenges in recovering even a part of the amount lost, as the legal and procedural processes are often lengthy, costly and distressing. At times, the process of recovery becomes more painful than the process of losing money,' Justice Ramasubramanian said.

Key Demands and Suggestions

The NHRC chief stressed the urgent need to improve recovery mechanisms, plug loopholes in the existing legal framework, strengthen law enforcement response, and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) to combat such scams. He also floated the idea of introducing alerts during prolonged OTT calls as a preventive measure against digital fraud.

NHRC member Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi acknowledged gaps in existing processes for addressing digital fraud and expressed hope that multi-stakeholder discussions would yield practical solutions. NHRC member Vijaya Bharathi Sayani framed cybercrime prevention as a governance imperative, stating: 'Preventive action is not only a matter of technology and regulation but also a responsibility of good governance. Therefore, our collective goal should be to ensure that no one becomes a victim of such frauds.'

Disproportionate Impact on the Elderly

NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal noted in his opening remarks that cybercrimes disproportionately affect elderly persons — including retired officials, professionals, industrialists and bankers — causing both financial losses and significant psychological distress. He added that cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting personal data obtained through leaks and other sources to target vulnerable individuals, raising serious concerns about data privacy and protection.

What Participants Recommended

Among the concrete proposals that emerged from the discussion was the recognition of digital arrest scams as a distinct offence under the existing legal framework, which would facilitate more effective investigation, prosecution and victim redressal. Participants also advocated for stronger protections for senior citizens, faster recovery of defrauded funds, greater accountability across the digital ecosystem, enhanced public awareness campaigns, and improved coordination among law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and telecom service providers.

This comes amid a broader national conversation on cybercrime governance, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having previously addressed the menace of digital arrest scams in his Mann Ki Baat broadcasts. The NHRC discussion signals a rights-based dimension to the debate that has so far been dominated by policing and regulatory responses. How quickly the Centre translates these recommendations into legislative or regulatory action will determine whether this session marks a turning point or remains advisory.