Psychology Of Digital Arrest

 

 

 

 

T HERE have been a number of cases of cyber crimes where victims were confined to their rooms or some hotels for days and weeks together by cyber criminals. In one high profile case of cyber fraud both the husband and wife were asked to stay in separate rooms of a hotel and not to talk to each other without the permission of these cyber crooks. Such confinement has been given the name of digital arrest by the experts. It has become a common modus operandi these days by cyber criminals. When we look into the educational and professional profile of the victims, we find that they are highly educated and professionally sound. They are holding high positions in their organisation. They are high performing people. Then the moot question arises how such educated persons are duped and so digitally confined by these cyber crooks. It is highly surprising that these victims do not even suspect the foul play being enacted upon them in the initial phase till their bank accounts are syphoned .

 

A case which I know personally where the victim even took out his jewels and ornaments from his locker from SBI and handed over to the so-called safe custody of the alleged CBI officers. I found the answer to this puzzle in the discovery of neuroscience. According to the revelations of neuroscience, humans have three types of the brain. The oldest brain is the reptilian brain. It is the survival brain and is called the brain stem. The second brain which evolved after the reptilian brain is the mammal brain. It is the seat of emotions and is called the limbic system of the brain. The latest brain in the process of evolution is the human brain that is rational and is called the cerebral cortex. Neuroscientists have discovered that in case of a conflict between the emotional and rational brains, the emotional brain wins and the rational brain is paralysed. This is the reason that an overwhelmed person is not able to think rationally and logically. In fit of anger or rage, serious crimes are committed and the concerned persons repent for the commission of the crimes when he is calmed down and the rational brain starts functioning.

 

The same theory applies in the cases of the victims of cyber crimes also. Extreme levels of fear of arrest are falsely generated in the minds of the victims by cyber crooks. The cases of money laundering, child pornography, misuse of SIM card for commissions of crimes, etc, are the false narratives created by these cyber criminals. They amplify the dread by making the victims believe that in case they share these information with their near relatives, those relatives will also be arrested. Thus,, the overwhelming fear clouds the intelligence and thinking brain is shut down. In order to harmonise the emotional and rational brains and avoid overwhelming the intelligence, the first step is creating awareness amongst the masses. Regular breathing and meditation practices have been found to be useful in ensuring the resilience of the rational brain.Yogic practices enhance self restraint and help in delaying impulsive responses which are common in the cases of cyber victims.