How to file a cybercrime complaint online in India

Before you start: gather the evidence

Put everything in one folder on your phone or computer. Screenshots are fine; you don't need to print anything.

• Your details: name, address, mobile number, and a photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID or driving licence).
• What happened, in order: dates, times and a few short lines. Write it out first in Notes so you can paste it.
• Messages and calls: screenshots of SMS, WhatsApp chats, emails and call logs, with the sender's number or ID visible.
• Money trail (if any): bank statement or UPI screenshot showing the transaction ID or UTR number, the date, the amount and the receiver's UPI ID or account.
• Links and apps: the website address, app name, and any profile links of the person involved.

Each file on the portal has a size limit, so crop screenshots to the useful part.

Step by step on cybercrime.gov.in

1. Open the official siteType cybercrime.gov.in yourself. Don't click a link from a message; fake copies of the portal exist.
2. Choose the right sectionReport Women/Child Related Crime for sexual or morphed images, which can be reported without logging in. Report Other Cybercrime or Financial Fraud for loan-app harassment, fraud, extortion and hacking.
3. Log in with your mobile numberSelect your state, enter your mobile number and the OTP. The OTP comes from the government portal; this is the only time you should enter an OTP during this process.
4. Fill in the incident detailsCategory (for loan apps, choose financial fraud or harassment as it fits), date and time, where it happened (the app or website), and your description. Keep it factual: what they did, what they demanded, what you paid.
5. Add suspect details if you have themPhone numbers, UPI IDs, bank accounts, app name, social media handles. Partial details are still useful.
6. Upload the evidence and submitAttach your screenshots and statement. Check everything, then submit.
7. Save your acknowledgement numberYou'll receive a complaint or acknowledgement number by SMS and email. Screenshot it. You need it to track the case, and when writing to banks or platforms.

After you file

• Track it: log in to cybercrime.gov.in and use the complaint status option with your acknowledgement number.
• Tell your bank in writing: for any unauthorised transaction, email the bank's customer care with the complaint number. Under RBI's rules on unauthorised electronic transactions, reporting quickly limits how much of the loss you have to bear.
• Report the lender separately: if an illegal loan app is involved, also report it on RBI's Sachet portal (sachet.rbi.org.in).
• Report the number: fraud calls and SMS can be reported on the Chakshu section of sancharsaathi.gov.in, which helps get the number blocked.
• Keep new evidence: if the threats continue, keep screenshotting and add them to your case.

If you would rather go in person

You can go to your local police station or the district cyber cell with the same folder of evidence. Ask for your complaint to be registered, and for an FIR if you are being threatened or extorted. Police cannot refuse a complaint because the crime happened online, or because the offender is in another state. If you face a refusal, the online portal is always open.

Questions people ask

Is there a fee to file a cybercrime complaint?

No. Calling 1930 and filing on cybercrime.gov.in are both free. Anyone who asks for a fee to 'register your complaint' or 'recover your money' is running a second scam.

Can I get my money back?

Sometimes. If you call 1930 quickly, the money can be put on hold in the receiving account before it is withdrawn. After that, recovery depends on the investigation and the court. The faster you report, the better the chance.

Do I have to go to the police station?

Not to file the complaint; the online portal is enough to start. The complaint is sent to the police in your area, who may call you. For an FIR in serious cases, or if you are threatened in person, visiting the station with your printed complaint and evidence helps.

Someone is calling me pretending to be from the cyber cell and asking for money to close my case. Is that real?

No. Police do not ask for money over the phone to close a case, and there is no such thing as a 'digital arrest'. Hang up and report the number on 1930.