A late-night call says your Aadhaar-linked SIM was used in crime, your bank accounts are under watch, and arrest is next. That is the script behind India’s “digital arrest” fraud wave, which the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre flagged in an official advisory. One practical safety step is to lock your Aadhaar biometrics before anyone can misuse fingerprint, iris, or face authentication.
Why This Fraud Wave Feels More Dangerous Now
The scam is getting sharper because callers now mix fake police pressure, forged documents, and Aadhaar-linked claims. On April 18, 2026, The Times of India reported a Hyderabad case in which a retired railway employee lost ₹4 lakh after fraudsters claimed a SIM issued on his Aadhaar was tied to illegal activity and threatened him with an arrest warrant. The Home Ministry’s I4C had already issued an advisory on “digital arrest” cybercrime on March 6, 2025, showing this is not isolated panic but a recognised fraud pattern.
What Aadhaar Biometric Lock Actually Does
UIDAI says Biometric Locking lets an Aadhaar holder lock fingerprints, iris, and face authentication to strengthen privacy and confidentiality. Once locked, no entity can complete biometric-based Aadhaar authentication for that holder, and attempts return error code 330. UIDAI also notes that a registered mobile number is essential for using this service.
A Small Step That Blocks A Bigger Problem
This will not stop scam calls from reaching you. It does reduce one misuse route if someone tries to exploit your biometric data after tricking, copying, or coercing you. UIDAI has also pushed the same safety line publicly, urging users not to share OTPs, use Masked Aadhaar, and lock biometrics for safety.
How To Lock Your Aadhaar Biometrics In 2 Minutes
Open the UIDAI biometric lock service through the official UIDAI portal or use mAadhaar. Sign in with your Aadhaar-linked details, verify with OTP on your registered mobile, and choose the biometric lock option. Once enabled, your fingerprint, iris, and face authentication stay locked until you temporarily unlock them or disable the lock. UIDAI says the same facility is also available through Aadhaar Seva Kendras and enrolment centres. UIDAI also hosts a video explainer for lock or unlock steps, useful if you want a visual walkthrough before changing settings on the portal or app during a rushed moment after a suspicious call.
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What Else You Should Do Right Away
Do not trust any caller claiming police, RBI, CBI, or telecom action over video call. Real agencies do not conduct “digital arrest” on call and demand transfers for verification. If a caller mentions Aadhaar misuse, hang up, verify independently, lock biometrics, and report the attempt on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or helpline 1930. Keeping biometrics locked when not needed is the faster habit; unlocking can be done temporarily when required.
FAQs
Is biometric lock permanent?
No. You can temporarily unlock biometrics when needed, then relock them again for continued protection later.
Do I need registered mobile access?
Yes. UIDAI requires a registered mobile number to use biometric locking and unlocking services online.
Will this stop scam calls completely?
No. It blocks biometric misuse, but scam prevention still needs caution, verification, and reporting quickly.
Can I lock face authentication too?
Yes. UIDAI says fingerprint, iris, and face modalities all get locked under this feature.
Where should I report digital arrest scams?
Report immediately on the cybercrime portal or call 1930 before deleting chats, messages, screenshots, records.
