The initiative comes as cybercriminals increasingly impersonate law enforcement officials to threaten victims and extort money online.

India’s central investigation agency has introduced a new digital tool to help people identify fake notices issued in the name of officials, amid growing concerns over “digital arrest” scams that have duped citizens across the country.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot called “Abhay”, designed to help users verify whether a notice claiming to be from the agency is genuine or potentially fraudulent. The initiative comes as cybercriminals increasingly impersonate law enforcement officials to threaten victims and extort money online.

In many digital arrest scams, fraudsters pose as officers from agencies and falsely accuse people of being linked to crimes, pressuring them into transferring money or sharing personal information. Officials said the system is aimed at helping people verify notices and avoid fraud.

To use the facility, people who receive a notice claiming to be from the CBI must visit the agency’s official website and click on the “Abhay” icon available on the homepage. After completing an OTP-based mobile verification process, users can upload a scanned copy of the notice for authentication.

According to officials, the chatbot provides real-time feedback and can indicate whether the document appears authentic or suspicious. The CBI described “Abhay” as its first notice verification system developed by the agency aimed at helping citizens protect themselves against cyber fraud and impersonation attempts nationwide.