New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian on Tuesday called for stronger legal and institutional measures to tackle digital arrest scams, highlighting their growing threat to the rights, dignity and security of citizens.

Speaking at an Open House Discussion on ‘Safeguarding Human Rights against Digital Arrest Scams’ organised by the NHRC in hybrid mode, Justice Ramasubramanian said cyber-enabled frauds have emerged as a serious challenge, with Indians reportedly losing about Rs 52,976 crore to such crimes over the past six years.

He added that nearly eight per cent of these losses were linked to digital arrest scams, where 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.

He stressed the need to improve recovery mechanisms, identify loopholes in the legal framework, strengthen law enforcement response and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) to combat such scams.

He also suggested exploring alerts during prolonged OTT calls to help prevent digital scams.

NHRC member Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi said there were gaps in existing processes to address the challenges posed by digital fraud and expressed hope that discussions among stakeholders would help evolve practical solutions.

NHRC member Vijaya Bharathi Sayani said safeguarding citizens from cybercrime and financial fraud was an essential aspect of good governance.

“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,” she added.

In his opening remarks, NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal said cybercrimes disproportionately affect elderly persons, including retired officials, professionals, industrialists and bankers, causing financial losses as well as psychological distress.

He added that cybercriminals were increasingly exploiting personal data obtained through leaks and other sources to target vulnerable individuals, raising serious concerns about data privacy and protection.

Among the key suggestions that emerged during the discussions was recognising digital arrest scams as a distinct offence under the existing legal framework to facilitate more effective investigation, prosecution and victim redressal.

Participants also advocated stronger safeguards 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.

–IANS

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