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—fake-police-notice-pdf-scam-india [2026/08/02 01:28] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +====== Fake Police Notice PDF Scam Explained — How to Verify and Report (2026) ======
 +
 +
 +
 +{{ :social:auto:fake-police-notice-pdf-scam-india.png?direct&1200 |Fake Police Notice PDF Scam Explained — How to Verify and Report (2026) — RTI Wiki}}
 +
 +<WRAP center round info 95%>
 +**Quick Reply:** Fake Mumbai Police, CBI or Cybercrime PDF notice on WhatsApp or email? Verify it in 5 minutes, ignore the deadline, report at cybercrime.gov.in.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-description=(Fake Mumbai Police, CBI or Cybercrime PDF notice on WhatsApp or email? Verify it in 5 minutes, ignore the deadline, report at cybercrime.gov.in.) metatag-keywords=(fake police notice India, fake CBI notice PDF, Delhi police summons WhatsApp, digital arrest scam, fake police PDF verify)}}
 +
 +A "Police Notice — appear within 24 hours or face arrest" PDF on email or WhatsApp is the most common opening shot of the **digital-arrest scam**. The notice is forged, the seal is photoshopped, and the phone number on it is routed to a call centre that will keep you on a Skype call until your bank account is empty.
 +
 +There is no concept of "digital arrest" in Indian law. A genuine police summons is **served physically** by an officer of your local police station, never as a WhatsApp PDF demanding money. This page shows you how to verify any digital notice in five minutes and report the forgery.
 +
 +===== Direct answer =====
 +
 +A police notice that arrives on email, WhatsApp, or SMS — especially as a PDF claiming to be from CBI, Mumbai / Delhi Police, Cybercrime Cell, NIA, or "Customs" — is almost always a scam. Genuine summons under **BNSS, 2023 §63** are **served physically** by an officer of the local police station, in writing, in duplicate, signed and sealed. Verify any digital notice by calling the official station landline (taken from the state police website, **not** the number printed on the PDF), and report the fake at [[https://cybercrime.gov.in|cybercrime.gov.in]] or by calling **1930**. Never share screen, never pay, never panic.
 +
 +===== In this guide =====
 +
 +  * [[#How the digital-arrest scam runs|How the digital-arrest scam runs]]
 +  * [[#Five red flags in the PDF|Five red flags in the PDF]]
 +  * [[#How a real summons is served|How a real summons is served]]
 +  * [[#Verify in 5 minutes|Verify in 5 minutes]]
 +  * [[#The 30-minute drill if you already engaged|30-minute drill if you already engaged]]
 +  * [[#Report the fake notice|Report the fake notice]]
 +  * [[#What not to do|What not to do]]
 +  * [[#Sample report letter|Sample report letter]]
 +  * [[#Can compensation be claimed?|Can compensation be claimed?]]
 +  * [[#FAQ|FAQ]]
 +
 +===== How the digital-arrest scam runs =====
 +
 +  - **Hook** — Email / WhatsApp PDF: "FIR No. 12345/2026 — Cybercrime Branch Mumbai — Money laundering investigation against your Aadhaar." Logos of CBI, RBI, DRI, "Cyber Police," sometimes a fake Supreme Court watermark.
 +  - **Authority transfer** — Phone number in the PDF leads to a "Sub-Inspector" who video-calls you on Skype / WhatsApp wearing a police-style uniform in front of a fake station backdrop.
 +  - **Confine** — You are told you are under "digital arrest" and must stay on video, alone, until "verification" completes.
 +  - **Drain** — You are pressured to "transfer funds for verification" / "open RTGS for refund." The money goes to mule accounts and is layered out through crypto exchanges.
 +
 +The PIB Fact Check unit, the Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), and the Reserve Bank of India have all publicly confirmed: **"digital arrest" is not a legal concept in Indian law.** No agency arrests anyone over a video call.
 +
 +===== Five red flags in the PDF =====
 +
 +| Red flag | What you'll see in the PDF | Why it's fake |
 +| **1. Email-only delivery** | PDF arrives by Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, WhatsApp | BNSS, 2023 §63 mandates physical service, in duplicate |
 +| **2. Pan-India agency stack** | Lists CBI, RBI, NIA, Customs, IB together | Real notices come from one named station |
 +| **3. Foreign / hosted seal** | High-DPI PNG of a generic "Govt of India" seal | Real seals carry the station number + state insignia |
 +| **4. Skype / WhatsApp video number** | "Report at Skype ID: ___" | No Indian agency conducts proceedings on Skype |
 +| **5. 24/48-hour deadline + threat** | "Failure to comply leads to arrest under PMLA / NDPS / NCB" | BNSS, 2023 §63 prescribes a reasonable period for appearance |
 +
 +If even **one** of these flags is present, the document is almost certainly a forgery. Five-out-of-five is a textbook digital-arrest opener.
 +
 +===== How a real summons is served =====
 +
 +Under the **Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023** (BNSS — in force from 1 July 2024, replacing the CrPC):
 +
 +  * **§63 — Form of summons.** Every summons is in writing, in duplicate, signed by the presiding officer of the court, and bears the seal of the court or station.
 +  * **§64 — Service.** Served by a police officer or officer of the court, who delivers or tenders one copy **personally** to the person summoned.
 +  * **§66 — When the person cannot be found.** After due diligence, the summons may be served on an adult member of the family residing with the addressee, or by affixation at the residence.
 +
 +In practice: a constable or head-constable from your **local jurisdictional station** comes to your registered address, hands you the notice, takes your signature on the duplicate copy, and leaves. The notice carries the station's local landline number, the Investigating Officer's name and rank, the FIR / DD number, and the section under which you are summoned. The BNSS does permit electronic service of summons through court-authorised channels — but that comes from a court, never from an unknown WhatsApp number demanding money.
 +
 +===== Verify in 5 minutes =====
 +
 +  - **Open the official state police website** — //not// the number on the PDF. Examples: [[https://www.delhipolice.gov.in|delhipolice.gov.in]], [[https://mumbaipolice.gov.in|mumbaipolice.gov.in]], [[https://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in|kolkatapolice.gov.in]].
 +  - **Find the named station's official landline.** Save it before you call.
 +  - **Call the station** and ask: "I have received a notice on email purportedly from your station, FIR No. X. Please verify."
 +  - **Cross-check the FIR** at the state's Citizen Portal — Maharashtra (citizen.mahapolice.gov.in), Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and UP all have an FIR-search by number.
 +  - **PIB Fact Check** — forward the PDF to [[https://factcheck.pib.gov.in|PIB Fact Check]] (WhatsApp +91-8799711259) for a public flag.
 +
 +If the station says "no such notice issued from us," you have a **forgery under BNS, 2023 §336–§340 (forgery, forging an electronic record, and using a forged document as genuine)**. Save everything.
 +
 +===== The 30-minute drill if you already engaged =====
 +
 +If you have already (a) opened the PDF, (b) called the number, (c) joined the Skype / WhatsApp video call, or (d) transferred any money:
 +
 +  - **Hang up. Walk into another room.** Do not return to the call — they will pretend the disconnection is "evidence of guilt."
 +  - **Switch off the device** or uninstall any "support" app if you were screen-shared. Scammers push **TeamViewer / AnyDesk / RustDesk** APKs to keep control of the phone.
 +  - **If money moved** — call **1930** immediately, then file at [[https://cybercrime.gov.in|cybercrime.gov.in]]. Quote: "digital arrest scam, fake police notice."
 +  - **Bank** — Block cards, freeze net-banking, and raise a dispute on every UTR.
 +  - **Trusted person** — Loop in a family member or friend. Isolation is the scam's main weapon.
 +  - **Local police** — File an FIR at the **real** station nearest to your home under **BNS, 2023 §318 (cheating) + §319 (cheating by personation) + §336–§340 (forgery)** and **IT Act §66D (cheating by personation by means of a communication device)**.
 +  - **PIB Fact Check + Cyber Dost** — Forward the PDF so the warning goes public.
 +
 +> If the call is still live while you read this, **disconnect now**. You can finish reading after.
 +
 +===== Report the fake notice =====
 +
 +  - **[[https://cybercrime.gov.in|cybercrime.gov.in]]** — File under "Financial Fraud" or "Cybercrime"
 +  - **1930** — National Cyber Helpline (24×7, toll-free)
 +  - **PIB Fact Check** — WhatsApp +91-8799711259
 +  - **Sanchar Saathi → Chakshu** — Report the SMS / WhatsApp / call
 +  - **Local police** — Written FIR at the jurisdictional station
 +  - **Email host** — Report the sender to [email protected] / outlook.com; the address gets killed across the platform
 +  - **WhatsApp** — Report the chat from inside the chat → Block + Report
 +
 +===== What not to do =====
 +
 +  * Do **not** call the number in the PDF — even to "tell them off." Once you call, you become a verified target.
 +  * Do **not** share Aadhaar, PAN, debit card details, OTP, or address with the caller.
 +  * Do **not** transfer money for "verification." There is no such concept in Indian law.
 +  * Do **not** stay alone on a video call. Real police never demand isolation.
 +  * Do **not** post the PDF publicly with personal details — redact your name and address before sharing for awareness.
 +
 +===== Sample report letter =====
 +
 +<code>
 +To,
 +The Officer-in-Charge,
 +Cyber Crime Cell,
 +[City] Police
 +
 +Subject: Receipt of forged police notice — request for FIR
 +under BNS, 2023 §318 / §319 / §336–§340 + IT Act §66D
 +
 +Sir / Madam,
 +
 +I, [Full name], aged [age], resident of [address], have received via
 +[email/WhatsApp] a forged document dated [date], purporting to be a
 +police notice / summons issued by [agency named in PDF], quoting
 +[FIR No.]. The document is forged: genuine summons under
 +BNSS, 2023 §63 are served physically, never as a WhatsApp PDF.
 +
 +Attached:
 +  1. PDF of the forged notice
 +  2. Email / WhatsApp metadata (sender, time, IP if available)
 +  3. Phone number printed on the PDF: ___
 +  4. Skype / WhatsApp ID provided: ___
 +  5. Bank statement entry (if money was transferred): ___
 +
 +I request registration of an FIR under BNS, 2023 §318 (cheating),
 +§319 (cheating by personation), §336–§340 (forgery, forged
 +electronic record, and using a forged document as genuine), and
 +IT Act §66D (cheating by personation by means of a communication
 +device). Please also flag to the National Cyber Crime Reporting
 +Portal (Reference: ______ at cybercrime.gov.in).
 +
 +Yours faithfully,
 +[Signature, Name, Date]
 +[Phone, Email]
 +</code>
 +
 +===== Can compensation be claimed? =====
 +
 +Yes — three parallel routes:
 +
 +  - **Bank refund under the RBI Limited Liability Circular, 6 July 2017.** If you report the unauthorised electronic transaction within **3 working days**, your liability is **zero** where the failure is on the bank's side, and capped at fixed limits otherwise. Report in writing to the bank and keep the complaint reference.
 +  - **Insurance.** Some cyber-insurance and card-protection policies cover digital-arrest fraud. Check the policy terms; the insurer will want the FIR number and the 1930 reference.
 +  - **Consumer forum.** If your bank ignored clear fraud signals (an unusual large transfer to a new payee, no alert), you can file a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
 +
 +Reporting to **1930 within the first golden hour** gives banks the best chance to freeze the mule account before the money is layered onward.
 +
 +===== What to do in the next 30 minutes (printable card) =====
 +
 +  - **0–5 min** — Disconnect; pull the station number from the official state police website
 +  - **5–15 min** — Call the station; confirm the forgery
 +  - **15–25 min** — File at cybercrime.gov.in; call 1930 if money moved
 +  - **25–30 min** — Forward to PIB Fact Check and Sanchar Saathi Chakshu
 +  - **Same day** — File a written FIR at the local station; submit to the cyber cell
 +  - **Within 3 working days** — File the written bank dispute under the RBI Limited Liability framework
 +
 +===== If the formal channel fails, escalate via RTI =====
 +
 +<WRAP center round info 100%>
 +If a fake-notice complaint is not resolved through the regular route, you can file an **RTI** to compel the public authority to either act or explain in writing why they have not. The fee is ₹10 (free if you are BPL).
 +
 +  * Draft your application: [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]]
 +  * If the PIO does not reply in 30 days: [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/appeal-templates/deemed-refusal-first-appeal|Deemed refusal first appeal]]
 +  * Sample applications: [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/start|Sample RTI library]]
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Related pages =====
 +
 +  * [[/block-lost-stolen-sim-card-india|Block lost / stolen SIM]]
 +  * [[/fake-court-summons-whatsapp-scam-india|Fake court summons WhatsApp scam]]
 +  * [[/fake-kyc-update-scam-india|Fake KYC update scam]]
 +  * [[/scammed-on-upi-recovery-steps|UPI fraud recovery]]
 +  * [[/social-media-hacked-recovery|Social media hijack recovery]]
 +  * [[/arrest-fir-notice-rights-india|Arrest, FIR & notice — your rights]]
 +  * [[/deepfake-blackmail-recovery|Deepfake blackmail recovery]]
 +
 +===== Government & authority references =====
 +
 +  * **MHA — Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)**: [[https://cybercrime.gov.in|cybercrime.gov.in]] · **1930** · I4C has issued public advisories confirming that "digital arrest" is not a legal concept
 +  * **PIB Fact Check**: [[https://factcheck.pib.gov.in|factcheck.pib.gov.in]] · WhatsApp +91-8799711259
 +  * **DoT — Sanchar Saathi → Chakshu**
 +  * **State police citizen portals** for FIR verification
 +  * **BNSS, 2023** — §63 (form of summons), §64 (service), §66 (substituted service)
 +  * **BNS, 2023** — §318 (cheating), §319 (cheating by personation), §336–§340 (forgery, forged electronic record, using a forged document as genuine), §351 (criminal intimidation)
 +  * **IT Act, 2000** — §66D (cheating by personation by communication device), §66C (identity theft)
 +  * **RBI Circular** "Customer Protection — Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions", 6 July 2017
 +
 +===== FAQ =====
 +
 +==== Can a real police officer call me on Skype? ====
 +
 +No. Indian police do not conduct proceedings, record statements, or do "verification" on Skype, WhatsApp video, Zoom, or any video platform. All such calls are scams.
 +
 +==== The PDF has my exact full address. How? ====
 +
 +Public databases — voter rolls, leaked Aadhaar data, EPF, scholarship portals, old e-commerce orders. Address knowledge is not proof of authenticity.
 +
 +==== I paid money during a digital arrest. Will I get it back? ====
 +
 +If you call **1930** quickly, banks can sometimes freeze the mule account before the money is moved onward. Outside that window, file the bank dispute, the FIR, and (if relevant) the banking ombudsman in parallel — partial and delayed recoveries do happen when the paperwork is complete.
 +
 +==== Can CBI, NIA, ED or RBI summon me by email? ====
 +
 +Investigative agencies issue summons under the BNSS in the prescribed physical form, not by WhatsApp PDF. The Reserve Bank of India has no power to summon individuals at all — any "RBI notice" demanding money is a forgery on its face.
 +
 +==== Is forwarding the PDF to friends an offence? ====
 +
 +Forwarding for awareness (with personal details redacted) is fine. Forwarding a forgery intact, with sensational claims, can attract **BNS, 2023 §351** (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) or other liability if you amplify it. Redact, don't dramatise.
 +
 +==== Can the scammer post my data online if I don't pay? ====
 +
 +Usually an empty threat. Demanding money to "stop" a doxxing that was never real is part of the scam. Block the number and report; do **not** pay.
 +
 +===== Myth vs reality =====
 +
 +^ Myth ^ Reality ^
 +| "CBI sends emails." | CBI serves notices through its Investigating Officers, in the BNSS, 2023 §63 form, not by email PDF. |
 +| "PDF with seal = genuine." | Seals are easily forged. Verification is by calling the station's published landline. |
 +| "If I don't reply, I'll be arrested." | No agency arrests anyone over an email. A real arrest follows due process under the BNSS. |
 +| "Skype police is normal in India." | Indian police never use Skype. |
 +| "I can't recover what I paid." | The RBI Limited Liability framework (2017) and the 1930 lien-marking route recover money in many reported cases. |
 +
 +//Last reviewed: 17 July 2026.//
 +
 +{{tag>police scam fake notice pdf explained verify report}}
  
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