The "Family Member Arrested" scam is a type of cybercrime where fraudsters target individuals by claiming that one of their family members has been arrested. The scammers often impersonate police officers or legal officials to create a sense of urgency and fear in the victim. They may even claim to have evidence implicating the family member in a serious crime, such as drug trafficking or money laundering.  

To maintain control over the victim, the scammers may demand that the victim stay on a video call for "monitoring" or "verification" purposes. This prevents the victim from seeking help or verifying the information with actual authorities.  

The ultimate goal of the scammers is to extort money from the victim. They may demand payment for bail, legal fees, or other expenses related to the alleged crime. The scammers often pressure the victim to transfer money quickly, leaving them little time to think critically or seek advice.  

News Clippings with sources

Incident 1

Ref: https://www.ndtv.com/feature/new-ai-scam-a-fake-cop-spoke-to-woman-said-her-daughter-was-arrested-5217847

Incident 2

Ref: https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/son-in-trouble-fraud-this-whatsapp-scam-ended-with-arrest-of-hundreds-of-people-in-spain-427742-2024-05-01