Centre tells Supreme Court WhatsApp banned 9,400 accounts linked to digital arrest scams
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Apr 28, 2026: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that a multi-pronged strategy involving telecom regulators, service providers, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), tech companies, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is being implemented to curb the growing menace of digital arrest scams, with WhatsApp alone banning 9,400 accounts allegedly linked to such offences since January this year.
The details were submitted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a comprehensive status report filed in compliance with the Supreme Court’s February 9 directions aimed at controlling the rising number of digital arrest fraud cases across the country, sources said.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, which had taken suo motu cognisance of online frauds including digital arrests, had earlier directed the RBI, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and other agencies to jointly develop a framework for compensating victims of such scams.
The latest report, filed through Attorney General R Venkataramani, highlighted the enforcement measures taken by WhatsApp over the past 12 weeks. It stated that in January 2026, following concerns raised by I4C, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the DoT, WhatsApp launched a dedicated investigation into digital arrest scams targeting Indian users.
According to the report, the investigation focused on identifying scam networks, mapping their operations, and enforcing action across the entire network using automated defence systems. As a result, 9,400 accounts were banned for their alleged involvement in digital arrest scams.
To strengthen user protection, WhatsApp is also introducing several enforcement innovations, including systems to detect and remove accounts using official police or government logos in profile pictures. The platform is also considering warning users when they receive calls from newly created or suspicious accounts, a common trait among scam profiles.
Additionally, WhatsApp plans to automatically hide profile pictures of suspicious unknown callers to prevent fraudsters from using visual symbols of authority to deceive users.
The DoT and telecom service providers (TSPs) have also committed to a stricter timeline for disabling fraudulent SIM cards. A mechanism is being developed to block suspicious SIM cards within two to three hours of identification.
The report further stated that the CBI has fixed a Rs 10 crore loss threshold for taking over digital arrest investigations. At present, the agency has re-registered three major cases, including two from Gujarat involving large-scale financial frauds and a Delhi case where a single victim was allegedly cheated of Rs 22.92 crore.
A high-level Inter-Departmental Committee, chaired by senior officials, held its third meeting on March 12 with participation from telecom operators, financial regulators, and digital platforms to strengthen coordination against cybercrime.
One of the key proposals under consideration is the rollout of a Biometric Identity Verification System (BIVS) for real-time, cross-network monitoring of SIM card issuance. The DoT has been directed to implement the system by December 2026.
The report also said WhatsApp has committed to introducing SIM-binding mechanisms within four to six months. Under this system, the app will function only when the active, KYC-verified SIM card is physically present and active in the phone. If the SIM is removed, swapped, or becomes inactive, the app will stop working.
The RBI has also finalised a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) directing banks to temporarily hold suspicious transactions to prevent money mule activities.
The MHA has urged the Supreme Court to take the report on record and issue directions to the DoT for speedy implementation of the identified measures, including compliance by telecom operators and faster notification of the Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules and the BIVS.
It has also sought directions for quicker blocking of suspicious or fraudulent SIM cards used in cybercrime cases and asked MeitY to ensure WhatsApp implements all safeguards and commitments made before the Inter-Departmental Committee.