How to Report Cyber Crime in India
Call 1930 first, block the channel, then file on the portal. Speed decides whether money can be stopped.
A customer who has just lost ₹40,000 after sharing an OTP with a fake KYC caller has two official places to go: the national helpline 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in). Both are run under the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The order in which the customer uses them, and how fast, decides whether any money can still be stopped.
This page covers the citizen's side of reporting: which channel fits which crime, what to keep as evidence, and what the police must do with the complaint. What the bank itself must report to RBI and CERT-In is a separate obligation, covered on its own page.
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What a Victim of Online Financial Fraud Should Do
The advice branch staff should give a customer who walks in or calls right after the loss.
- 1
Call 1930 at once
I4C runs 1930 as the national helpline for cyber financial fraud in all States and UTs. The complaint enters the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), which links police, banks, payment intermediaries and wallets so the money trail can be acted on while funds are still in the system.
- 2
Block the channel with the bank
Use the bank's official helpline, app or branch to block the card, UPI or net banking access. Never use a number found through a search engine or sent by the caller.
- 3
File or complete the complaint on the portal
Register on cybercrime.gov.in with a name and an Indian mobile number (the OTP is valid for 30 minutes) and file under financial fraud. The portal issues an acknowledgement number, by SMS and email, to track the complaint.
- 4
Keep the evidence untouched
Do not delete the SMS, call log or chat. Take screenshots and download the bank statement before uploading them.
Which Channel for Which Complaint
Money lost through cards, net banking, UPI or wallets
Where to report
1930 helpline or the financial fraud option on the portal
Point to remember
Speed matters most; the call starts the money-trail process
Online sexual content involving a child, or rape/gang rape content
Where to report
Portal, Women/Children section
Point to remember
Can be reported anonymously; a complaint here cannot be withdrawn
Hacking, ransomware, social media crimes, cyber stalking and other cyber crime
Where to report
Portal, Other Cybercrime section
Point to remember
Can be withdrawn only before it is converted into an FIR
A suspicious number, website, UPI handle or app
Where to report
Portal's Report Suspect facility
Point to remember
The Suspect Repository lets citizens check an identifier first
Any cognizable offence
Where to report
Any police station
Point to remember
BNSS section 173 lets information be given irrespective of where the offence happened
| Situation | Where to report | Point to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Money lost through cards, net banking, UPI or wallets | 1930 helpline or the financial fraud option on the portal | Speed matters most; the call starts the money-trail process |
| Online sexual content involving a child, or rape/gang rape content | Portal, Women/Children section | Can be reported anonymously; a complaint here cannot be withdrawn |
| Hacking, ransomware, social media crimes, cyber stalking and other cyber crime | Portal, Other Cybercrime section | Can be withdrawn only before it is converted into an FIR |
| A suspicious number, website, UPI handle or app | Portal's Report Suspect facility | The Suspect Repository lets citizens check an identifier first |
| Any cognizable offence | Any police station | BNSS section 173 lets information be given irrespective of where the offence happened |
Evidence the Portal Asks You to Keep
The portal's FAQ lists these. A bank officer helping a customer should check each one is saved before anything is deleted.
- check_circleBank statement and the online transfer or UPI receipt
- check_circleCredit card receipt, where relevant
- check_circleScreenshots of the fraudster's number, chat transcripts and the URL of any fake website
- check_circleCopies of emails, images and videos linked to the fraud
- check_circleLetters, envelopes or brochures, if the approach came by post or courier
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What the Police Must Do Under the BNSS
Since 1 July 2024 the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita has replaced the CrPC. Under section 173, information about a cognizable offence can be given orally or electronically to any police station, whatever the place of the offence (the zero FIR idea in statute). Information given electronically is taken on record once the informant signs it within three days, and the informant gets a free copy. If the station refuses, the informant can send the substance in writing to the Superintendent of Police. Once an FIR is registered, the police must update the informant on progress within ninety days.
How the IIBF Exam Tests This
Expect direct recall: the helpline number, the portal's name, which ministry runs I4C, and which complaints can be filed anonymously. A common trap is offering 100 or 112 as the cyber fraud helpline, or crediting CERT-In with running the citizen portal. CERT-In handles cyber security incidents; I4C and the State police handle citizen crime complaints.
Scenario questions describe a customer who lost money and ask for the first step. The answer is the fastest route to stopping the money: 1930 and blocking the channel, before the paperwork.
FAQs
What is the cyber crime helpline number in India?expand_more
1930. I4C runs it as the national helpline for reporting cyber financial fraud, and it is active in all States and UTs. Other cyber crimes can be reported on cybercrime.gov.in.
How do I file a cyber crime complaint online?expand_more
Go to cybercrime.gov.in, register with your name and an Indian mobile number, verify the OTP, choose the right category and submit your details and evidence. You receive an acknowledgement number to track the complaint.
Can I report a cyber crime anonymously?expand_more
Only in the Women/Children section, for online child sexual abuse material and rape or gang rape content. Other complaints need registration so the police can contact you.
Can I file an FIR for online fraud at any police station?expand_more
Yes. Section 173 of the BNSS lets information on a cognizable offence be given to a police station irrespective of the area where the offence was committed.
Can I withdraw a cyber crime complaint?expand_more
A complaint under Other Cybercrime can be withdrawn before it is converted into an FIR. A complaint under the Women/Children section cannot be withdrawn.
Next steps
- Incident Reporting by Banksarrow_forward
- Customer Liabilityarrow_forward
- Investigationarrow_forward
- UPI Fraudarrow_forward
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