The Union government has formed an inter-departmental committee (IDC) to tackle the massive digital arrest scam that has cheated thousands, especially elderly and vulnerable people, of around ₹3000 crore. The IDC is chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security) and includes top officials from ministries like Electronics, Telecom, Law, and Finance, as well as law enforcement agencies such as the CBI, NIA, and Delhi Police. The committee has already held multiple meetings, with the latest on January 6 including representatives from Google, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Microsoft. It will review laws, enforcement challenges, and recommend solutions, providing updates to the Supreme Court during its hearing on January 13. These scams involve fraudsters impersonating police or judges to threaten people with fake arrests online and extort large sums. A notable case was flagged where a 70-year-old Supreme Court lawyer lost her entire savings in such a fraud, showing how convincing the scams have become. The Supreme Court has also directed the CBI to conduct an anti-corruption probe into bankers who may have helped open mule accounts for the cyber criminals. The Court called the scale of losses “staggering” and emphasized the need for systems that alert customers about these scams. The IDC aims to coordinate efforts across agencies to bring quick and effective solutions. The government has asked for a month to gather all inputs and share a consolidated action plan with the Court. Digital arrests have surged in India since 2022, making this government action a much-needed step to protect citizens from these large-scale online frauds.