How to Report Cyber Crime / Online Fraud in India (1930 and the National Portal, 2026)
What to do in the first hour after online fraud, how to use the 1930 helpline and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and what happens when a complaint becomes an FIR or a court case.
How-To Guide · Cyber Crime
If you are a victim of online or financial fraud, call 1930 immediately and file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. The first hour matters most, because a fast report can help the bank freeze the money before it leaves the fraudster’s account. For other cyber offences, such as online harassment or fake profiles, you can also file an FIR. This guide gives the steps in order, last verified October 2026.
- First step: call 1930 right away if money was lost online.
- Then: file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in and save the acknowledgement number.
- Follow up: write to your bank and use the UPI or NPCI dispute route.
- FIR: serious offences can also be reported to the police, and the case may reach court.
- Be realistic: reporting fast improves the chance of recovery but does not guarantee it.
01Why speed matters after online fraud
Online fraud moves fast. Once money is taken from your account, fraudsters often pass it through several accounts within minutes. Each step makes recovery harder.
This is why the first hour is often called the golden hour. The Ministry of Home Affairs runs the helpline 1930 and a system that connects the police with banks and payment companies. When a report reaches them early, the receiving bank may be able to hold the money before it is withdrawn.
There is no guarantee of recovery. But a late report almost always means a lower chance. So the rule is simple: report first, collect papers after.
02What to keep ready before you report
You do not need everything before you call 1930. Call first. Then gather these items for the portal complaint:
- Your bank account or card details, and the date and time of the fraud.
- The transaction ID or UTR number, and the amount lost.
- The fraudster’s phone number, UPI ID, account number, website link or social media profile, if you have them.
- Screenshots of chats, emails, SMS, payment receipts and call logs.
- Your ID proof and a working mobile number for OTP verification.
Do not delete anything
Keep the chats, emails and screenshots exactly as they are. Do not delete the app or block the number before you save the evidence. This material may be needed later by the police or a court.
03The steps to report cyber crime in India
Step 1: Call 1930
1930 is the national helpline for cyber financial fraud. Call it as soon as you notice the loss. Tell the officer what happened, the amount, the time, and the bank or payment app used. Your details are taken so the report can reach the banks involved.
Step 2: File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is run by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Open cybercrime.gov.in and follow this path:
- Choose to report a financial fraud, or another cyber crime.
- Register with your mobile number and verify it with an OTP.
- Fill in the incident details and add the evidence.
- Submit the form and save the acknowledgement number.
The portal also allows reporting without giving your name in some cases, such as crimes against women and children. For money fraud, give your full details so the bank can act.
Step 3: Track your complaint
Use the acknowledgement number to check the status on the portal. Note the date and the number for every call or visit. Do not lose this number. It is your reference for the bank and the police.
Step 4: Follow up with your bank and NPCI channels
Write to your bank branch or use its fraud helpline and email, and share the 1930 and portal reference numbers. Ask the bank to flag the transaction and to tell you in writing what action it took. If the payment was by UPI, also raise a complaint in the payment app and note the UPI reference. NPCI also has a dispute process for UPI transactions, which you can use alongside the bank complaint.
Step 5: Go to the police if an FIR is needed
A portal complaint is not always an FIR. If the offence is serious, or the police ask you, visit the local police station or cyber cell with your acknowledgement number and papers. Our guide on how to file an FIR online in India explains that process.
04Types of cyber crime you can report
The portal groups complaints into categories. The main ones are below.
| Category | Examples | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Financial fraud | UPI fraud, card fraud, fake loan apps, OTP scams, fake investment schemes | Call 1930, then file on the portal |
| Social media crime | Fake profiles, impersonation, account hacking, morphed photos | Portal complaint, save links and screenshots |
| Harassment and stalking online | Threats, abusive messages, blackmail, sextortion | Portal complaint, and an FIR if serious |
| Crimes against women and children | Obscene content, child abuse material | Portal, where limited anonymous reporting may be allowed |
| Hacking and data theft | Ransomware, email hacking, unauthorised access | Portal complaint and police cyber cell |
For money lost in any of these, call 1930 as well.
05When a complaint becomes an FIR or a court case
Many portal complaints stay as complaints. They become an FIR when the police find a cognisable offence and register it. Online cheating can fall under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, 2000, for example the cheating and identity theft provisions.
After an FIR, the police investigate, trace the accounts, and may file a charge sheet. The matter then goes to a magistrate’s court. Cyber cases can take a long time, with many hearing dates and orders.
Some disputes also go to a consumer forum, for example when a bank or an online seller is blamed for a deficiency in service. If you are filing such a claim, see our guide on consumer forum case tracking software.
One line on a related topic
Cyber harassment in a marriage context is a separate matter. For the criminal law on that, see Section 498A IPC and its BNS equivalent.
06Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting. Many people first try to fix the problem themselves. Every hour of delay lowers the chance of recovery.
- Calling a number from a search result. Fake "customer care" numbers are a common trap. Use only 1930 and the official portal.
- Sharing OTPs or screen access again with someone who says they will recover your money.
- Losing the reference number. Write it down and keep a photo of it.
- Deleting evidence before saving screenshots.
Be honest about the outcome too. Reporting does not promise a refund. It gives you the best chance and creates the record you need for any later case.
07Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Claw is not a place to report a cyber crime. For that, use 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in. Claw becomes useful later, if your complaint turns into an FIR and a court case or a consumer forum matter. Then you can track the case in Claw, which follows cases across 9,102 forums and shows updates in under 5 seconds, with hearing dates, cause lists and alerts. Claw also has a free plan for individual advocates. For teams that manage many matters, see our guide to litigation tracking for litigation-heavy companies.
08Sources and further reading
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs: mha.gov.in
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): i4c.mha.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Official procedures can change, so confirm them on the portal. Last verified October 2026.
09Frequently asked questions
What number should I call to report online fraud in India?
Call 1930, the national cyber fraud helpline run under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Call as soon as you notice the loss, because early reports give banks the best chance to hold the money.
How do I file a cyber crime complaint online?
Go to cybercrime.gov.in, choose the right category, register with your mobile number, fill in the details, upload evidence, and submit. Save the acknowledgement number to track the complaint.
Can I get my money back after a UPI fraud?
Sometimes. If you report quickly through 1930 and the portal, the bank may be able to freeze the money before it is withdrawn. There is no guarantee, and recovery gets harder with delay.
Is a cyber crime complaint the same as an FIR?
No. A portal complaint is a report. It becomes an FIR when the police register a cognisable offence. Serious cases can also be reported directly to the local police or cyber cell.
Can I report cyber crime without giving my name?
For some categories, such as crimes against women and children, the portal may allow limited anonymous reporting. For financial fraud, give full details so the bank and police can act.
Can Claw help me report a cyber crime?
No. Use 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in to report. If your complaint later becomes a court or consumer forum case, you can track its hearings and orders in Claw.