How to File Cyber Crime Complaint Online in India — Step-by-Step Guide

Cyber crime is rising rapidly in India — from UPI fraud and phishing to social media abuse, hacking, and identity theft. The Indian government has set up a National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in where you can report any cyber crime online from home.

This guide covers how to file a cyber crime complaint, what types of crimes are covered, the helpline number 1930, what evidence to collect, and how to follow up.

Also read: How to Register FIR Online — Online Police Complaint in India for general police complaints.

Types of Cyber Crimes You Can Report

Financial Fraud / Online Fraud

• UPI fraud (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm scams)
• Bank account hacking / unauthorized transactions
• Credit/debit card fraud
• Loan app harassment
• Investment / cryptocurrency scams
• Job fraud / work-from-home scams
• E-commerce fraud (fake products, non-delivery)

Social Media Related

• Cyberstalking and harassment
• Morphed images / defamation
• Impersonation / fake profiles
• Online trolling and threats

Women & Children Related (Priority)

• Child pornography / CSAM
• Sexual harassment online
• Revenge pornography
• Sextortion
• Cyberbullying

Hacking & Data Theft

• Email / social media account hacking
• Data breach and identity theft
• Ransomware attacks
• Website defacement

Step-by-Step: File Complaint on cybercrime.gov.in

Step 1: Visit the Portal

Go to https://cybercrime.gov.in and click "File a Complaint".

Step 2: Choose Complaint Type

• Report Cyber Crime — for financial fraud, hacking, social media crimes
• Report Women/Child Related Crime — for sexual exploitation, CSAM, harassment (handled with higher priority)

Step 3: Register / Login

• Enter your mobile number
• Receive OTP and verify
• Fill in your name, email, and state

Step 4: Fill Complaint Details

1. Category of cyber crime — select from dropdown (financial fraud, social media, hacking, etc.)
2. Sub-category — specific type of crime
3. Date and time of incident
4. Description — write a clear, detailed account of what happened
5. Suspect details — if known (phone number, email, UPI ID, bank account, social media profile)
6. Amount lost — if financial fraud

Step 5: Upload Evidence

Upload supporting documents:

• Screenshots of messages, transactions, or social media posts
• Bank statements showing fraudulent transactions
• Email headers (for email fraud)
• Call recordings (if available)
• Any other relevant proof

Supported formats: PDF, JPG, PNG (max 5 MB per file)

Step 6: Submit and Get Acknowledgment

• Review all details and submit
• You will receive an acknowledgment number
• Save this number — you need it to track your complaint

Step 7: Track Your Complaint

• Visit cybercrime.gov.in → "Track Your Complaint"
• Enter your acknowledgment number
• Check the status and any updates from the investigating officer

Helpline 1930 — For Immediate Financial Fraud

If you have been a victim of financial fraud (money stolen from bank/UPI/card), call 1930 immediately.

Why call 1930 first:

• Available 24×7 across India
• Can freeze the fraudster's account quickly to prevent money from being withdrawn
• Links directly to your bank and the receiver's bank
• The faster you call, the higher the chance of recovering money

What to tell the helpline:

1. Your name and phone number
2. Type of fraud (UPI, card, net banking, etc.)
3. Amount lost
4. Transaction details (transaction ID, time, date)
5. Suspect's details if known (phone number, UPI ID, account number)

Critical: Call 1930 within the first hour of fraud for the best chance of freezing funds.

What Evidence to Collect

Collect and preserve evidence before filing a complaint:

Tips:

• Take screenshots with timestamps and URLs visible
• Do not delete any messages, emails, or chat history
• Save evidence on a separate device or cloud storage
• Note down the exact date and time of the incident

What Happens After Filing?

1. Acknowledgment — You receive a complaint number immediately
2. Assignment — Complaint is forwarded to the relevant state cyber crime cell
3. Investigation — The cyber cell investigates; they may contact you for more details
4. FIR Registration — If the complaint has merit, an FIR is registered
5. Action — Suspect may be summoned, arrested, or bank accounts frozen
6. Resolution — Recovery of funds (if financial fraud) or legal action against the offender

Typical timeline:

• Financial fraud (with 1930 call): 24-72 hours for account freeze
• FIR registration: 3-15 days after complaint
• Investigation: 1-6 months depending on complexity

Other Ways to Report Cyber Crime

Important Tips

1. Act within the golden hour — for financial fraud, call 1930 immediately. Every minute counts
2. Don't share OTP with anyone claiming to be from bank/police/government — they will never ask
3. File on the portal AND call 1930 — both for maximum coverage
4. Keep following up — check complaint status regularly and respond to investigating officer's queries
5. Report to your bank — inform your bank immediately about unauthorized transactions; they must resolve within 7-10 days under RBI guidelines

FAQs

Q1: Is there any fee to file a cyber crime complaint?

No. Filing a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in or calling 1930 is completely free.

Q2: Can I file a complaint anonymously?

Yes, for women/child-related crimes, you can file anonymously. For other crimes, your identity is required but kept confidential.

Q3: Can I get my stolen money back?

Yes, if you report quickly. The 1930 helpline can freeze the fraudster's account. RBI guidelines also mandate banks to credit back unauthorized transaction amounts within 10 days if reported within 3 days.

Q4: What if the cybercrime portal is not responding?

Visit your nearest police station and file an FIR directly. You can also contact the state cyber crime cell. See our FIR filing guide for details.

Q5: Can I file a complaint for cyber crime that happened on social media?

Yes. Report on cybercrime.gov.in under the social media category. Additionally, report the content directly to the social media platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for faster removal.

Q6: What is the punishment for cyber crimes in India?

Under the IT Act 2000, punishments range from 3 years to life imprisonment and fines from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh+ depending on the offence type and severity.

Q7: Can NRIs file cyber crime complaints for frauds in India?

Yes. NRIs can file complaints on cybercrime.gov.in. The complaint will be forwarded to the relevant state police.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. CitizenNest is not affiliated with any government body. For emergencies, call 1930 (cyber crime) or 112 (general emergency) immediately.