- WhatsApp banned 9400 accounts to stop digital fraud.
- Scammers used to scare people by posing as officers.
- Many accounts were being operated from countries like Cambodia.
- WhatsApp introduced new security features for users.
WhatsApp Accounts Ban: Amidst the increasing cases of digital fraud, WhatsApp took major action in India and closed more than 9400 accounts. This step was taken specifically to stop the rapidly spreading scam called Digital Arrest. According to reports, this action was taken within about 12 weeks starting from January 2026. Information regarding this was also shared in the Supreme Court of India.
What is digital arrest scam?
Digital arrest is a fraud in which fraudsters scare people by pretending to be police or government officials. Through calls or messages, they claim that the other person is involved in some serious crime like money laundering or drugs case.
To create an atmosphere of fear, these people often keep the victim connected to video calls for hours and prevent him from talking to anyone. But the truth is that in reality there is no legal provision like digital arrest.
How does this whole game work?
The fraudsters first create fear and then ask for sensitive information from the victim like Aadhaar number, bank details or OTP. After this, pressure is created to transfer money in the name of solving the case. The purpose of this entire game is only one – to extort money by showing fear.
Many accounts were being operated from abroad
Investigation also revealed that many accounts related to these scams were being operated from countries like South-East Asia, especially Cambodia. In this case, WhatsApp worked closely with Indian agencies like Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Department of Telecommunications.
How did the case increase from 3,800 to 9,400?
Initially, government agencies had identified about 3,800 suspicious accounts. But WhatsApp’s own systems took the investigation further, revealing a larger network and taking action against thousands of additional accounts.
New safety features for users
To deal with these scams, WhatsApp has also introduced many new security features. Now a warning will appear on messages coming from unknown numbers, you will get information about how old the account is and the visibility of the profile photo can be limited in suspicious chats. Besides, Caller Identification is also being improved so that users can easily identify fake calls.
Not just ban the account, keep an eye on the entire network
WhatsApp says that it does not just take action on individual complaints but tries to catch and eliminate the entire scam network. However, the company also admitted that many frauds also happen outside the app, hence international cooperation is necessary to stop it completely.
Supreme Court expressed concern
The Supreme Court of India has also expressed serious concern regarding this matter. The court said that now the fraudsters have started using fake court orders and even fake signatures, which is a big threat to the trust of the common people.
How to avoid such scams?
If you ever get a call or message threatening arrest, then first of all do not panic. Disconnect such calls immediately because no agency makes arrests over phone or video calls. Do not share your personal information like Aadhaar, bank details, OTP or password with anyone. If someone claims to be an officer then verify it yourself from the nearest police station.
Also, lodge a complaint on cyber crime helpline 1930 or report on the official portal. The most important thing is to tell your family or a trusted person in such a situation so that you can take the right decision.
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