New Delhi: In a decisive intervention, the Supreme Court of India (SC) on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a nationwide probe into the rising scourge of “digital arrest” scams that have defrauded citizens of crores of rupees.

The Court — issuing notices to all States and Union Territories — sought comprehensive details of all First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged in connection with such scams, highlighting the need for a uniform, centralised investigation owing to the pan-India and even cross-border nature of the fraud.

A bench headed by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi — hearing the suo motu public interest case — expressed shock at the scale of the fraud, pointing out that nearly ₹3,000 crore has been reportedly extorted from victims, many of them elderly.

Victims of such scams are often contacted by fraudsters impersonating law enforcement or judicial officials via video calls or social media. They are shown fake arrest warrants or court orders, threatened with legal action or “digital detention,” and coerced into transferring money under duress to “clear” their names.

The Court also underlined the need for greater global cooperation, urging the central government to consider ratifying the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, because many of these scams involve offshore syndicates operating across national borders.

Acknowledging the gravity of the matter, the SC ordered that at least one ongoing case — involving a senior citizen duped for crores via a fake SC order — be handed over to the CBI. The Court warned that standard procedures may not suffice, and that “unusual orders” might be needed to tackle this modern-day menace.

The developments mark a significant step in India’s fight against cyber-fraud. Legal experts believe a coordinated central probe could help unravel the network behind these frauds and bolster protections for vulnerable citizens — especially the elderly.