Meet Abhay, your new shield against ‘digital arrest’

New Delhi: Did you get a call or were shown a CBI notice threatening "digital arrest"? Abhay will come to the rescue.

All you have to do now is log on to CBI’s website (www.cbi.gov.in) and check its veracity. The Central Bureau of Investigation has rolled out "an AI-based helpbot for authentication of CBI notices, marking a significant milestone as India’s first real-time notice verification system." It is called Abhay.

This innovative tool, the CBI said, was designed to shield citizens from the escalating threat of cyber fraud and digital arrest scams.

As cyber-enabled frauds become more complex, the rapid evolution of AI and deepfake technology has made it harder for the average person to tell the difference between a legitimate official document and a fabricated one. One of the most malicious versions of this crime is the “digital arrest” scam, which thrives on creating intense fear.

The process usually begins with a fraudulent notice that mimics the branding of a law enforcement agency, falsely accusing the recipient of serious criminal involvement. Once the victim feels intimidated, the fraudsters initiate a sham legal process, maintaining constant surveillance over the individual for days. They call this a “digital arrest,” a term and practice that have absolutely no legal standing or existence.

Recognising that citizens often feel powerless when confronted with such tactics, Union home minister Amit Shah instructed CBI to develop this software to place the power of verification directly in the hands of the people. CBI director Praveen Sood formed a team which facilitated Abhay’s rollout on priority, sources said.

It is accessible 24/7 on the CBI portal. “If you receive a notice claiming to be from the CBI, you simply need to visit the website, click on the Abhay logo, and complete a quick OTP verification using your mobile number. Once verified, you upload a scanned copy or photo of the notice,” said a senior CBI officer.

Within minutes, Abhay analyses the document and tells if it is a genuine CBI communication or a fraudulent extortion bid.

CBI has issued an advisory for the public to remain vigilant. It reiterated that there is no such thing as a “digital arrest,” and citizens should never panic or comply with demands and report these immediately to the national cybercrime portal.

“By launching Abhay, CBI reaffirms its commitment to taking stringent action against the criminals and entities providing the banking and telecom infrastructure that enables these frauds,” CBI said.