Just read the news that a businessman lost fifty-eight crores through a clever “digital arrest.” Fifty-eight crores!
But before we rush to blame the scamsters, maybe we should look at the man in the mirror, because only those with guilty consciences fall for people pretending to be the law.
A year ago, India’s oldest Rotary Club flew me down to speak on any topic I wished. I told them I would speak on “How to Evade the Police, the ED, and the Income Tax.”
That afternoon, the five-star ballroom was overflowing with industrialists, tycoons, and socialites, all waiting for an escape plan from the long arm of the law.
I began solemnly, “There is only one foolproof way to evade the police, the ED, and the IT department. Be honest.”
Some faces fell faster than the stock market after a surprise tax. But I was not done yet.
I told them that now, with every movement tracked, whether by your phone, your car, your CCTV, your social media posts, or even your refrigerator tattling on you when you open it, honesty must become a way of life. I gave them an example. A senator in the United States once threatened make trouble for Uber, for breach of privacy, until the company quietly showed him records of all his rides to his mistress’s apartment. After that, the senator went silent.
I smiled and said, “Honesty is no longer just a virtue. It is the best available policy.” This time, there was thunderous applause. Maybe they realised truth was cheaper than hush money.
Now, about our fifty-eight crore victim. Who parts with that kind of money to a stranger unless his conscience is already trembling in the dock? Scamsters do not just hack your phone; they hack your guilt. They know that a man with hidden skeletons jumps at every knock, even from a delivery boy.
If your dealings are clean, you do not fear a digital arrest. You simply log out and laugh. But if you have cut a few corners, every ringtone sounds like a siren.
The truth is that honesty is not an option anymore. It is a survival skill. Every click, every swipe, every chat, every transfer leaves a trail.
So here is my updated cybersecurity advice. Forget firewalls, OTPs, and antivirus software. Install integrity. It is the only protection that never expires, cannot be hacked, and does not need renewal.
After that Rotary talk, I enjoyed the excellent food and hospitality. I am not sure everyone enjoyed my speech, but honesty digests better than deceit. I slept soundly that night, though hoping no government squad would come knocking on my door, for giving out secrets on evading arrest.
So, if you want peace of mind, do not just change your passwords. Change your ways. Remember, the safest cloud is still a clear conscience, and the only arrest worth facing is when your mind finally captures the truth…!
The Author conducts an online, eight session Writers and Speakers Course. If you’d like to join, do send a thumbs-up to WhatsApp number 9892572883 or send a message to bobsbanter@gmail.com
