Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 Malayalam radio station, reports that WhatsApp has banned more than 9,400 accounts linked to so-called “digital arrest” frauds in India over a 12-week period beginning January 2026.
According to information submitted to the Supreme Court, the action was part of a coordinated crackdown carried out with Indian government agencies, including the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the Department of Telecommunications.
The scams involve fraudsters impersonating police, judicial, and investigative authorities such as “CBI,” “Delhi Police,” and “ATS Department” to intimidate victims and extort money. Many of these accounts reportedly used official-looking names and logos to appear legitimate.
WhatsApp said its internal investigation found that a significant number of these fraudulent accounts targeting Indian users were being operated from Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia. While government agencies initially flagged around 3,800 accounts, WhatsApp’s systems expanded the enforcement action to over 9,400 accounts in total.
The platform has also introduced new safety features aimed at reducing online fraud. These include warnings for suspicious first-time messages, visibility of account creation details for unknown contacts, restrictions on profile photos in high-risk interactions, and improved caller identification for unfamiliar numbers.
WhatsApp emphasized that while it can disable accounts and disrupt scam networks on its platform, dismantling the broader criminal operations requires international cooperation and coordinated law enforcement action.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has proposed stronger nationwide measures to combat such scams, including biometric SIM verification, tighter telecom regulations, enhanced monitoring of SIM issuance, and faster blocking of suspicious numbers. Authorities have also recommended real-time data sharing between telecom operators and law enforcement agencies to improve investigations.
The issue remains under review by the Supreme Court, which has called for continued monitoring and coordinated action against the growing threat of digital arrest scams.
