Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Robert, S. James; Singh, Varsha; Pandey, Ravi P.; Bhuyan, Bismirty Title A name given to the resource Digital arrest in the cyber age: a psychological perspective on fear, authority, and consciousness Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2026 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Frontiers in Psychology;Volume;17;Issue;;Article No.;1726740; Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1726740" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1726740</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033134864?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033134864?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Robert S.J., Department of Psychology, CHRIST University, Karnataka, Bangalore, India; Singh V., Department of Psychology, CHRIST University, Karnataka, Bangalore, India; Pandey R.P., Department of Psychology, Central University of Haryana, Haryana, India; Bhuyan B., Clinical Psychologist (RCI), Stepcare, Bangalore, India Description An account of the resource 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. Copyright 2026 Robert, Singh, Pandey and Bhuyan. Subject The topic of the resource authority impersonation; compliance; criminology; cyber threat; cybercrime; cybersecurity; digital arrest; digital scam Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Frontiers Media SA Relation A related resource ISSN: 16641078; Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online