Chandigarh: Haryana Director General of Police Ajay Singhal on Saturday revealed that Pakistan-based cyber criminals attempted to trap him and his wife in a “digital arrest” scam, highlighting the growing threat of cross-border cyber fraud.
Addressing a press conference, Singhal said the accused made a call from a Pakistani number using the display picture of a police inspector to appear credible. However, he grew suspicious after noticing the foreign number and immediately warned the callers, who then resorted to abusive language.
The cyber criminals also tried to target his wife, but she had already been alerted about such scams, preventing any financial or personal loss. The DGP shared the incident to caution the public against rising cases of cyber fraud, especially those involving intimidation tactics like “digital arrest”.
In response to the increasing threat, Haryana Police has launched the ‘Abhedya App’ to curb fraud calls originating from abroad. The app allows users to block suspicious international calls and WhatsApp messages, while enabling trusted contacts when required.
Singhal described the app as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. It will be available on both Android and iOS platforms, and has already been tested on a pilot group of 25–30 users.
The police have also set up a dedicated unit to tackle cybercrime more effectively. The DGP urged citizens to remain alert, avoid engaging with unknown foreign numbers, and immediately report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
