How to Report a Cyber Crime in India

Cyber crime can involve financial fraud, account misuse or impersonation, and the first hours matter most. Call 1930 and tell your bank at once, then file the full complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. If the fraud touches your loan, check your loan account too, because a fraud report does not pause your EMIs.

• Call 1930 promptly when you notice cyber financial fraud or an unauthorised transaction
• Notify your bank or payment provider straight away. For bank customers, reporting a third-party breach within three working days can mean zero liability
• File the full complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and keep the acknowledgement or reference number
• Preserve your evidence, such as transaction details, screenshots, messages and emails
• Check your loan account if the fraud involves your loan, and raise a request through My Account or the Bajaj Finance App. Your EMIs stay due
• Never share OTPs, PINs, passwords or CVV details with anyone claiming to help with the complaint

Cyber crime is unlawful activity carried out using computers, mobile devices, digital accounts, networks or the internet. It can involve stealing money or personal information, gaining unauthorised access to accounts, impersonating another person, spreading malicious software or using deceptive online methods to commit fraud.

It often begins when a person clicks a fraudulent link, shares an OTP or password, downloads an unsafe application, responds to a fake message or enters details on a fraudulent website. Criminals may also misuse social media accounts, email addresses, payment details or compromised devices. Common starting points include phishing messages, fake customer-care calls and fraudulent investment or shopping offers.

To reduce your risk, verify unfamiliar links, websites and requests before responding. If you notice suspicious activity or financial loss, secure the affected account and report it through the official channels.

When should you call 1930 for cyber crime?

Call 1930 immediately when you experience cyber financial fraud or notice an unauthorised financial transaction. The National Cybercrime Helpline is meant for prompt reporting of financial cyber fraud, so the complaint can be taken up through the relevant reporting system.

• Unauthorised bank transaction: Money is transferred from your account without your approval
• UPI or wallet fraud: A fraudulent UPI, wallet or other digital payment is made
• Card-related fraud: Debit or credit card details are misused for an unauthorised transaction
• Online payment scam: You lose money through a fraudulent website, link, message or digital transaction
• Account or payment fraud: Compromised banking or payment credentials result in financial loss

Keep the transaction details, bank or wallet information and available evidence ready, but do not wait to gather every detail before calling.

What should you do immediately after financial cyber fraud?

Act in this order, and do not wait for one step to finish before starting the next:

1. Call 1930 and report the transaction
2. Tell your bank or payment provider through its official reporting channel, and ask it to block the affected card or account where needed
3. Preserve transaction alerts, screenshots, emails and chat records
4. Change compromised passwords through official channels
5. File the full complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal

Timing matters for your liability. Under RBI circular RBI/2017-18/15, DBR.No.Leg.BC.78/09.07.005/2017-18, dated 6 July 2017, a bank customer has zero liability for an unauthorised electronic transaction caused by a third-party breach if it is reported within three working days of the bank's communication. For reports at four to seven working days, liability is limited, and beyond that the bank's Board-approved policy applies. Banks must also take immediate steps to prevent further unauthorised transactions after a report. In covered cases, they must credit the amount within 10 working days of notification. For a wallet or other provider, check its own policy.

Reporting promptly can support action, but the outcome depends on the circumstances and on the authorities and financial institutions involved.

Submit your complaint on the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, using the category that fits the incident.

1. Open the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
2. Select the appropriate complaint category, such as financial fraud or other cyber crime
3. Choose the applicable reporting option shown on the portal
4. Sign in or create a citizen login where required
5. Verify your mobile number through the OTP process
6. Enter the incident date, time and complaint details
7. Provide transaction information if the complaint involves financial fraud
8. Upload relevant evidence and identification documents where required
9. Review the information carefully and submit the complaint
10. Keep the acknowledgement or complaint details for tracking

Provide complete and accurate information. The portal states that complaint details and supporting evidence help police authorities assess and act on the matter.

What details are required to report cyber crime?

Keep relevant information and evidence ready before you file. Accurate details help the agency handling the complaint understand the incident.

The portal provides for uploading website URLs, conversation transcripts, screenshots, videos, images and documents. Do not alter or delete relevant evidence before reporting, and describe only what you know rather than assuming who is responsible.

How can you track or escalate a cyber crime complaint?

A complaint submitted through the trackable route can be followed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Keep the acknowledgement or complaint details you receive, and use the Track your Complaint facility to check the status.

Complaints filed on the national portal are handled by the concerned State or Union Territory law enforcement agency. Filing a complaint does not guarantee a particular legal action or outcome. If a complaint registered through the Report & Track option has not received an appropriate response, the portal publishes contact details for State and Union Territory Nodal Officers and Grievance Officers, which you can use for the grievance route. Keep all complaint references, evidence and later communication together, in case you are asked for verification.

How can fraud target your existing loan or EMIs?

If you already have a loan, fraudsters may target your active account instead of offering you a new one. Watch for:

• Fake settlement or discount offers: A call or message says you can close your loan for a reduced amount if you pay now to an unfamiliar account
• Fake overdue payment links: A message claims your EMI is overdue and sends you to a page that is not the lender's official portal
• Fake mandate or KYC requests: A message asks you to re-verify your NACH mandate or KYC through a link
• Unexplained fees for your NOC: Someone demands a fee before releasing a No Objection Certificate after you close your loan
• Impersonated recovery calls: A caller uses threats or urgency to demand immediate payment to a personal account

Before acting on any of these, check your loan account through My Account or the Bajaj Finance App, using your saved login rather than a link or number in the message. Pay only through official channels.