How to report cyber fraud in India

If you have lost money or shared sensitive details because of an online scam, speed matters. This is the order to do things in, what to keep, and what to expect afterwards.

The three steps, in order

1. Call your bank.
2. Call 1930.
3. Report on cybercrime.gov.in.

Each step is explained below. If you can, do the first two within minutes of realising what happened.

1. Call your bank

Phone your bank straight away, using the number on your card or the official website. Tell them you have been a victim of fraud, and ask them to block your card or UPI access and flag the transactions. If you used more than one account or card, mention all of them.

Ask for a reference number for your call, and note the time.

2. Call 1930

1930 is India’s national helpline for cyber financial fraud. Call it as soon as you can, and have the transaction details to hand. The sooner a report is made, the better the chance of stopping the money from moving on.

3. Report on the national portal

File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in. You can report financial fraud and other online crime there, and keep the complaint number it gives you. If you are not sure which category fits, choose the closest one and describe what happened in your own words.

What to keep

Before you delete anything, save:

• Screenshots of the messages, calls and chats.
• The phone numbers, email addresses, usernames and UPI IDs used.
• Transaction details: dates, times, amounts and transaction IDs.
• The exact web addresses of any fake sites. Copy them as text rather than tapping them again.
• Any documents you shared.
• Your bank’s reference number from the call.

What to tell them

Explain in order what happened: how the contact began, what you were asked to do, what you did, and what you paid or shared. Stick to facts, and give times as closely as you can. If you are not sure about something, say so rather than guessing.

What to expect

You may be asked for more details, and your bank may need to investigate. Nobody can promise that money will be recovered, but acting fast gives the best chance, and your report helps to track the scammers and warn others.

Your bank’s own rules about unauthorised transactions can also matter, especially if you report quickly. Ask the bank what its process and timelines are.

Reporting a scam where you lost nothing

You can still help. Report the number or message on the Sanchar Saathi portal run by the Department of Telecommunications, and keep a copy of the message. Warn friends and family. Reports build the picture that helps stop the next person.

Protect yourself afterwards

• Change passwords, and turn on two-step verification.
• Follow the clean-up steps if you opened a file or installed an app.
• Watch your accounts for the next few weeks.
• Tell family and friends what happened. It helps them spot the same scam.

Know the common scams

Most reports involve a handful of patterns. Learning them is the best protection: the digital arrest call, the UPI refund trick, the fake KYC message and the WhatsApp task scam. And before you open a link you do not trust, you can check it with RIEG.