Frontiers in Psychology: Forensic and Legal Psychology

Abstract: Digital arrest is an emerging form of cyber deception wherein cybercriminals impersonate law enforcement or other authorities to falsely claim legal authority to arrest individuals through digital means, often via phone calls or online communication channels.

As digital technology increasingly permeates daily life, such deceptive tactics pose serious threats to individuals’ security and psychological well-being. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for understanding the phenomenon of “digital arrest”, differentiating it from other cybercrimes like phishing, vishing, and social engineering. The paper examines the psychological mechanisms underlying such scams, including the exploitation of fear, authority, and urgency, as well as the social implications of digital deception.

Ultimately, the paper highlights the necessity for future research to empirically assess and evaluate the effectiveness of preventive measures and strategies aimed at reducing victimization. This conceptual paper aims to raise awareness of digital arrest as a distinct form of cyber threat and contribute to the growing body of literature on digital scams and their psychological consequences.

“The effectiveness of digital arrest scams lies in their ability to exploit fear of legal consequences rather than deficiencies in technological safeguards. Older adults are frequently targeted due to limited experience with digitally mediated law enforcement interactions and a stronger tendency to defer to perceived authority figures.”

Contents include:

Recent trends and emerging significance of digital arrest scams
Definition of digital arrest
Bridging the gap: integrating digital arrest into cybercrime research
The perpetrators and the victims
Psychological mechanisms in cyber deception
Mechanisms and stages of digital arrest
Preventive perspectives and future directions
Implications for consciousness and society

“The formal language, legal terminology, and urgency employed by scammers can overwhelm their capacity for verification, leading to rapid compliance. Similarly, young adults and students may lack procedural knowledge of legal systems and are often unprepared for authority-impersonation tactics, making them vulnerable when confronted with sudden accusations and threats of arrest.”

Robert SJ, Singh V, Pandey RP and Bhuyan B (2026) Digital arrest in the cyber age: a psychological perspective on fear, authority, and consciousness. Front. Psychol. 17:1726740. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1726740