How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint Online in India

What is the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal?

The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs that enables citizens to report cyber crimes online. The portal handles complaints related to online fraud, hacking, cyberbullying, social media crimes, and financial fraud.

You can file complaints in two categories:

1. Women/Child Related Crimes — Online harassment, morphing, child pornography, cyber stalking
2. Other Cyber Crimes — Financial fraud, hacking, data theft, social media crimes, ransomware

All complaints are forwarded to the respective state/UT cyber crime cells for investigation and action.

Types of Cyber Crimes You Can Report

Financial Fraud

• UPI fraud, OTP scam, phishing
• Fake e-commerce websites
• Investment/cryptocurrency scams
• Loan app harassment
• Credit/debit card fraud
• SIM swap fraud

Social Media Crimes

• Fake profiles and impersonation
• Cyberbullying and trolling
• Defamation and morphed images
• Hate speech online

Hacking and Data Theft

• Email/account hacking
• Data breach and identity theft
• Ransomware attacks
• Unauthorized access to devices

Women and Child Related

• Cyber stalking
• Non-consensual intimate images
• Online sexual harassment
• Child sexual exploitation material (CSAM)
• Sextortion

Other Crimes

• Online job fraud
• Matrimonial fraud
• Fake customer care numbers
• Crypto/forex trading scams
• Fake lottery/prize scams

How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint Online

Step 1: Visit the Portal

Go to cybercrime.gov.in.

Step 2: Choose Complaint Category

• Report Women/Child Related Crime — For sexual content, harassment, morphing
• Report Other Cyber Crime — For financial fraud, hacking, social media crime

Step 3: Register/Login

• Click "File a Complaint"
• Register with your mobile number (OTP verification)
• Or log in if already registered

Step 4: Fill Complaint Details

• Complainant details — Name, address, phone, email
• Incident category — Select the type of cyber crime
• Incident details — Date, time, description of what happened
• Suspect details — Phone number, email, social media profile, website (if known)
• Evidence — Upload screenshots, transaction records, chat logs

Step 5: Upload Evidence

Upload supporting documents:

• Screenshots of fraudulent messages, websites, or profiles
• Bank transaction statements showing fraudulent transactions
• Chat logs (WhatsApp, Telegram, email)
• UPI transaction IDs and reference numbers
• URLs of fake websites or social media profiles
• Maximum file size: 5 MB per attachment

Step 6: Submit Complaint

Review all details and submit. You receive:

• Complaint Acknowledgement Number — Save this for tracking
• SMS and email confirmation

Step 7: Track Status

1. Visit cybercrime.gov.in
2. Click "Track Your Complaint"
3. Enter your Acknowledgement Number
4. View current status — Registered, Under Investigation, Action Taken, Closed

Immediate Steps for Financial Fraud (Within Golden Hour)

If you've been scammed financially, act within the first hour:

Step 1: Call 1930 (Cyber Crime Helpline)

• Dial 1930 immediately
• Available 24/7
• Report the fraud with transaction details
• The helpline can freeze the suspect's account to prevent money withdrawal

Step 2: Block Your Account/Card

• Call your bank's customer care
• Block the compromised card or freeze UPI
• Report unauthorized transactions

Step 3: File Online Complaint

• File on cybercrime.gov.in with all transaction details
• The faster you report, the higher the chance of recovering money

Step 4: Inform Your Bank

• Visit your bank branch
• Submit a written complaint about the fraud
• Request reversal of unauthorized transactions
• Bank must resolve within 10 working days (RBI guidelines)

Filing Complaint at Local Cyber Police Station

If you prefer offline or need to follow up:

1. Visit your nearest Cyber Crime Police Station or the cyber cell of your district police
2. Carry:
   • Written complaint with incident details
   • ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN)
   • Evidence — printed screenshots, bank statements
   • Device details if hacked
3. File an FIR (First Information Report)
4. Get the FIR copy for your records

The police cannot refuse to register a cyber crime complaint. If they do, approach the Superintendent of Police or file on the national portal.

What Happens After Filing?

1. Acknowledgement — Complaint number generated
2. Assignment — Forwarded to the concerned state cyber cell
3. Investigation — Cyber police investigate, may contact you for more details
4. Action — FIR registered, suspect traced, bank accounts frozen
5. Resolution — Money recovery (if financial fraud), legal action against accused

Timeline: Varies widely — simple cases may be resolved in weeks, complex cases can take months.

Tips for Preserving Evidence

1. Take screenshots immediately — Before the scammer deletes messages/profiles
2. Save transaction records — UPI IDs, bank statements, payment receipts
3. Don't delete messages — Keep WhatsApp, SMS, email conversations intact
4. Note phone numbers and URLs — Even if they seem unimportant
5. Record screen if possible — Video evidence of ongoing fraud

How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Crime

• Never share OTP, PIN, or passwords — No bank or official ever asks for these
• Verify before clicking links — Check URLs carefully for typos (phishing)
• Don't install unknown apps — Especially screen-sharing apps suggested by "customer care"
• Use strong passwords — Different for each account; enable 2FA
• Verify UPI requests — Check the receiver's name before approving
• See our consumer complaint guide for product-related scams

Important Tips

1. Report within 24 hours for financial fraud — chances of recovery drop dramatically after 48 hours
2. Call 1930 first for financial fraud — it's faster than the online portal for freezing accounts
3. Don't engage with scammers — Block and report; don't try to "catch" them yourself
4. Keep evidence intact — Don't format your phone or delete apps involved in the fraud
5. Follow up regularly — Check complaint status and contact the investigating officer if there's no progress

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee for filing cyber crime complaints?

No, filing complaints on cybercrime.gov.in and calling 1930 is completely free. If anyone asks for money to file your complaint, they are likely a scammer.

Can I file a cyber crime complaint anonymously?

For women/child related crimes, anonymous reporting is available. For other cyber crimes, you need to provide your identity details for investigation purposes.

What if the cyber criminal is from another state?

File your complaint on the national portal — it will be routed to the appropriate state. Cyber crimes can be investigated across state boundaries under IT Act provisions.

Can I get my money back after being scammed?

Recovery is possible if you report quickly (within the golden hour). The 1930 helpline can freeze the scammer's account. Success rate is higher for UPI/bank fraud than for cryptocurrency scams.

Should I file a police complaint or use the online portal?

Do both — file on cybercrime.gov.in immediately and also visit your local police station. The online complaint creates a national record, while the local FIR enables direct investigation.

What laws cover cyber crime in India?

The IT Act, 2000 (and IT Amendment Act, 2008) along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC/BNS) cover cyber crimes. Penalties range from fines to imprisonment depending on the offence.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the Ministry of Home Affairs or any police authority. In case of emergency, call 100 (police) or 1930 (cyber crime helpline) immediately.