New Delhi: With “digital arrest” frauds emerging as one of the most alarming forms of cybercrime in India, the Central Bureau of Investigation has launched ABHAY, an AI-powered helpbot designed to help citizens instantly verify whether notices issued in the name of the agency are genuine or fake.
The initiative comes amid a sharp rise in cyber-enabled frauds where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials, terrorize victims with fabricated criminal charges and extort money through fear and psychological manipulation.
The CBI described ABHAY as the country’s first real-time notice verification system aimed at combating fraudulent “digital arrest” scams that have trapped thousands of unsuspecting citizens across India.
Cyber fraudsters are increasingly using advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, voice cloning and deepfakes to create fake notices and impersonate officers from agencies like the CBI, police, ED and other regulators.
Victims are often falsely accused of crimes ranging from money laundering to narcotics trafficking before being coerced into transferring money or remaining under virtual surveillance for hours or even days.
The agency clarified that there is no legal concept called “digital arrest” in Indian law and warned citizens not to panic if they receive threatening calls, video conferences or notices claiming immediate arrest through online proceedings.
Under the new system, citizens who receive suspicious notices in the name of the CBI can visit the agency’s official website, click on the ABHAY portal, complete OTP verification and upload the notice for instant authentication.
[CBI Official Website](https://cbi.gov.in?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
The chatbot then informs users whether the document appears genuine or potentially fraudulent, placing verification directly in the hands of ordinary citizens who are often unable to distinguish between real and fabricated legal documents.
Officials said the rise of cyber-enabled financial crimes has become a major challenge for India’s criminal justice system, especially as fraud networks exploit fear, confusion and lack of digital awareness among the public.
The CBI has also urged people to remain cautious about investment scams, impersonation calls and fraudulent demands made in the name of investigating agencies.
Citizens have been advised to immediately report suspicious activity to cybercrime authorities instead of complying with threats or transferring money.
The agency reiterated that strict legal action would be taken against individuals and entities helping cybercriminals misuse banking channels and telecom infrastructure to execute such scams.
