by Online frauds, fake investment apps, UPI scams, social media harassment and sextortion threats are rising fast in India. If you or someone you know becomes a victim, filing a cyber crime complaint quickly can make a huge difference. In financial frauds, reporting within the first hour (the “golden hour”) gives the best chance of freezing the money before it is withdrawn. The good news is that you can file a cyber crime complaint online from home through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or by calling the 1930 helpline.
This guide explains how to file a cyber crime complaint online step by step, what to do immediately after losing money, the documents and evidence you need, how to track the complaint, how women can report anonymously, and how to protect yourself from future scams.
What Is Cyber Crime?
Cyber crime means any crime that involves computers, mobile phones, the internet or digital payments. Common types include:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Financial fraud | UPI fraud, OTP fraud, fake customer care, investment and trading scams, loan app fraud, credit card fraud |
| Social media crimes | Fake profiles, account hacking, cyber stalking, defamation, morphed images |
| Crimes against women and children | Sextortion, sharing intimate images without consent, child sexual abuse material |
| Job and lottery scams | Fake job offers, part-time “task” scams, KBC lottery calls |
| Identity theft | Misuse of Aadhaar, PAN or SIM cards |
| “Digital arrest” scams | Fraudsters posing as police, CBI, customs or courts on video calls |
| Ransomware and hacking | Locked computers, data theft, email compromise |
Lost Money? Call 1930 Immediately
If money has been debited from your account due to fraud, do this first:
- Call 1930, the national cyber crime helpline, as soon as possible.
- Share the transaction details: bank name, account number, UPI ID, transaction ID, date, time and amount.
- The helpline registers your complaint in the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, which alerts banks and payment apps to freeze the money in the fraudster’s account.
- Note the acknowledgement number and complete the full complaint on the portal within 24 hours.
- Inform your own bank and block cards, UPI and net banking if needed.
Speed matters because fraudsters quickly move money through several accounts. Many victims have recovered part or all of their money by reporting within the golden hour.
How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint Online: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Visit the Official Portal
Go to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), run by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Step 2: Choose the Complaint Type
Click File a Complaint and accept the terms. Choose:
- Report Women/Child Related Crime – for sexual content, harassment and abuse (anonymous option available), or
- Report Other Cyber Crime – for financial fraud, hacking, social media crimes and more.
Step 3: Register With Your Mobile Number
Select your state, enter your name and mobile number, and verify with OTP. Create a login for tracking.
Step 4: Fill Incident Details
Select the category and sub-category of the crime, date and time, where it happened (website, app, social media, phone call) and a detailed description in at least 200 characters. For financial fraud, enter bank, wallet or UPI details and transaction IDs.
Step 5: Add Suspect Details
Provide any information you have: phone numbers, email IDs, social media profile links, UPI IDs, bank account numbers or website addresses used by the fraudster.
Step 6: Upload Evidence
Upload screenshots, bank statements, chat records, call logs, emails or photos (as allowed file types and sizes).
Step 7: Submit and Save the Acknowledgement
Preview your complaint, submit it and download the acknowledgement with the complaint number. The complaint is forwarded to the police in your state for action.
Documents and Evidence to Keep Ready
- Your ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID or driving licence)
- Bank statement highlighting fraudulent transactions
- Transaction IDs, UTR numbers and UPI reference numbers
- Screenshots of chats, messages, emails, payment screens
- Phone numbers and call recordings, if any
- Links to fake websites, apps or social media profiles
- For hacking: details of the hacked account and last access information
Never delete chats or call logs before taking screenshots; they are important evidence.
How to Track Your Cyber Crime Complaint
- Log in to cybercrime.gov.in with your registered mobile number.
- Click Track Your Complaint.
- Enter the acknowledgement number and verify with OTP.
- View the current status and any updates from police.
You may also be contacted by the local cyber police station for more information or to record a statement.
Anonymous Reporting for Women and Children
For crimes involving child sexual abuse material or sexually explicit content, the portal allows anonymous reporting without revealing your identity. You can upload the URL or evidence and submit. Victims who want police action should file a complaint with their details so that the police can contact them. The portal also has a dedicated section to report content involving rape or gang rape.
Zero Liability for Bank Frauds
Under RBI rules on customer liability in unauthorised electronic transactions, if a fraud happens due to a third-party breach and you report it to your bank within three working days, your liability can be zero. Reporting between four and seven days can limit your liability, depending on the account type. So, along with the cyber crime complaint, always inform your bank in writing and keep the complaint reference.
Common Online Scams in 2026 and How to Spot Them
1. “Digital Arrest” Scam
Fraudsters call pretending to be police, CBI, customs, narcotics officers or even judges, claiming that a parcel in your name contains drugs or that your Aadhaar is linked to money laundering. They keep you on a video call for hours and demand money to “clear your name”. Remember, no Indian agency conducts arrests or investigations over video calls. Disconnect immediately and file a cyber crime complaint.
2. Part-Time Job and Task Scams
You receive a WhatsApp or Telegram message offering money for liking YouTube videos or rating hotels. After small payouts, you are asked to “invest” to unlock bigger tasks, and then the money disappears. Real jobs never ask you to pay to earn.
3. Fake Investment and Trading Apps
Scammers add you to groups that show huge profits from stock or crypto trading and ask you to install an app. The app shows fake profits, but you cannot withdraw. Invest only through SEBI-registered brokers and official apps.
4. KYC Update and Electricity Bill Scams
Messages claim your bank account, SIM or electricity connection will be blocked unless you update KYC through a link or call a number. These links steal your details or install remote access apps. Banks and KSEB never ask you to share OTPs or install screen-sharing apps.
5. Sextortion
Strangers make video calls, record them, morph them into obscene clips, and threaten to share them unless you pay. Do not pay; payments only lead to more demands. Block the caller, save evidence and file a cyber crime complaint under women/child or other crimes as appropriate.
6. Fake Customer Care Numbers
Searching online for customer care numbers can lead to fake listings. Fraudsters ask you to install apps like AnyDesk and then empty your account. Always use numbers from official websites or apps.
7. Loan App Harassment
Illegal loan apps charge huge interest, access your contacts, and harass you and your family with morphed photos. Report such apps on the portal and to the Sachet portal of RBI, and use only loan apps linked to RBI-registered lenders.
Kerala Cyber Police and Local Help
Kerala Police has cyber police stations in every district and a dedicated cyber division. You can file complaints at any police station, and they are required to register cyber complaints. Kerala Police also runs awareness programmes and posts scam alerts on its official social media pages. For quick help, call 1930 or 112.
Report Fraud Calls and Messages on Sanchar Saathi
If you received a suspicious call or SMS but did not lose money, report it through the Chakshu facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal. This helps the government block fraudulent numbers before they target others. Read our full guide on Sanchar Saathi to learn how to report fraud calls, block lost phones and check SIM cards in your name.
What Happens After You File a Complaint?
- The complaint is assigned to the cyber cell or police station of your jurisdiction.
- For financial fraud, banks and payment platforms are alerted to put a lien or hold on the fraudulent amount.
- Police may call you for details, a written statement or additional documents.
- In serious cases, an FIR is registered and investigation begins.
- If money is frozen, the court or police process helps return it to the victim after verification.
Recovery of money depends on how quickly you reported and whether the funds were still in the fraudster’s accounts. Follow up regularly with the police and keep your complaint number handy.
How to Protect Yourself From Cyber Crime
- Never share OTP, PIN, CVV or passwords with anyone.
- Do not install remote access apps at the request of callers.
- Enable two-factor authentication on email, social media and banking apps.
- Use strong, unique passwords and a password manager.
- Check website addresses carefully before entering details.
- Set daily UPI and card limits that match your needs.
- Keep phone and apps updated.
- Lock Aadhaar biometrics when not needed.
- Talk to children and elderly family members about common scams.
- Verify unexpected requests for money from friends by calling them directly.
Cyber Crime Complaint for Social Media Hacking
If your Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or email account is hacked, first try to recover it using the platform’s official recovery options. Change passwords on other accounts that use the same password. Then file a cyber crime complaint if the hacker is misusing your account to ask friends for money, posting harmful content or blackmailing you. Inform your contacts not to respond to messages from your hacked account. Include screenshots of suspicious login alerts and messages sent by the hacker in your cyber crime complaint.
Cyber Crime Complaint for UPI Fraud
UPI frauds often happen through “request money” tricks, QR code scams or fake refund calls. Remember that you never need to enter your UPI PIN to receive money. If you lost money, call 1930, then file a cyber crime complaint online with the UPI transaction ID, the fraudster’s UPI ID and screenshots. Also raise a dispute inside your UPI app and inform your bank.
Cyber Crime Complaint for Online Shopping Fraud
Fake shopping websites and social media sellers take payment and never deliver products. Before buying, check reviews, verify the seller and prefer cash on delivery for unknown sellers. If cheated, file a cyber crime complaint with the website link, payment proof and chat screenshots. For genuine sellers who fail to deliver or refund, you can also approach the National Consumer Helpline.
Writing a Strong Cyber Crime Complaint
A clear, detailed cyber crime complaint helps the police act faster. Follow these tips:
- Describe events in date and time order.
- Mention every phone number, UPI ID, account number and link used by the fraudster.
- State the exact amount lost and transaction references.
- Explain how you were contacted (call, SMS, WhatsApp, social media, website).
- Attach clear screenshots; avoid blurry photos of screens.
- Keep your language simple and factual.
Cyber Crime Complaint Offline: Visiting the Police Station
If you are not comfortable with online forms, visit the nearest police station or district cyber police station. Carry printouts of evidence, your ID and bank statements. Police are required to accept your cyber crime complaint even if the crime happened in another area; it can be transferred later. Ask for a receipt or FIR copy with the complaint number.
Real-Life Example
Anil, a retired teacher in Thiruvananthapuram, received a call from someone claiming to be a bank officer, saying his pension account needed urgent KYC. He shared an OTP and lost ₹48,000 within minutes. His son immediately called 1930 and gave the transaction details. The helpline registered the case, and the receiving bank froze ₹41,000 that was still in the fraudster’s account. The family then filed a full cyber crime complaint on the portal with bank statements and call details. After the police process, the frozen amount was returned to Anil’s account.
Cyber Crime Complaint for Students and Young People
Students are often targeted through gaming platforms, fake scholarship offers, online exam paper leaks and social media blackmail. If a student faces bullying, threats or misuse of photos, parents or teachers should help them file a cyber crime complaint quickly. Schools and colleges can invite the local cyber police for awareness sessions. Young people should know that asking for help is the right step, and that blackmailers lose power when the matter is reported.
Cyber Crime Complaint for Businesses
Small businesses face invoice frauds, email compromise (where fraudsters change bank details in supplier emails), ransomware and fake GST notices. If your business is affected, preserve system logs and emails, inform your bank, and file a cyber crime complaint with all technical details. Businesses should also train staff to verify any change in payment instructions by phone before transferring money.
Important Helplines
| Purpose | Number / Portal |
|---|---|
| Financial cyber fraud | 1930 |
| Online complaint | cybercrime.gov.in |
| Emergency | 112 |
| Women helpline | 181 |
| Child helpline | 1098 |
| Fraud call reporting | Sanchar Saathi – Chakshu |
Frequently Asked Questions on Cyber Crime Complaint
Can I file a cyber crime complaint online?
Yes. Use cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 for financial fraud. You can also visit the nearest police station or cyber cell.
Is there any fee to file a complaint?
No. Filing a cyber crime complaint is completely free.
How soon should I report a financial fraud?
Immediately, ideally within the first hour, by calling 1930.
Can I file a cyber crime complaint on behalf of my parents?
Yes. A family member can help file the complaint, but the victim’s details, bank information and consent should be included, and the police may contact the victim directly.
What if the fraud happened in another state?
You can still file the complaint in your own state on the portal; it can be coordinated with other states by the police.
Can I report a fake Instagram or Facebook profile?
Yes. Report it on the platform and file a complaint on the portal under social media crimes if it causes harm or harassment.
Conclusion
Cyber criminals depend on victims staying silent or reacting late. If you face fraud or online harassment, call 1930 immediately for money-related frauds, file a cyber crime complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with all evidence, inform your bank, and track the complaint regularly. Share this guide with family members, especially elderly parents and teenagers, so they know exactly what to do.
Staying alert, acting quickly and reporting every incident helps not just you but also thousands of others who could be targeted by the same fraudsters. Save the number 1930 in your phone today.
