how to report cyber crime online in india,
She had skincare products ordered at Foxtale. She received a call after 4 days. A man claimed to be of BlueDart, and was standing right outside her house. You can pay through the Internet, I will send you a scanner. It felt urgent. Legitimate. She scanned, paid, and transferred a screenshot. He said she entered the wrong amount, you need to send 1326 rupees, you send again and I’ll return the difference amount. Her mind wakes-up suddenly. Then silence. No delivery. No message from BlueDart. No refund. Only 1,360 lost, and the gutted rope of knowing what has just happened.
She isn’t alone. This is the same scam: fake delivery agent + QR code panic that is reported hundreds of times per day in India.
In the event that you are reading this because something like that has already happened to you, first: it is not your fault. These cheaters are businessmen. They investigate the functioning of the delivery systems. They understand precisely how to get you to do it, without pondering. Nevertheless, what you do today is important. Walk us through it, step by step.
Cyber crime is any crime that involves the use of a computer, smartphone and/or internet connection to cheat, threaten, steal and/or harm a person. The main law that regulates these crimes in India is the IT Act 2000 and Amendment Act 2008.
However, this is the awkward reality of the matter: the majority of victims do not report. This may be due to embarrassment, they think nothing will occur or simply, they are not sure of where to go. It is precisely that silence which scammers will rely on.
The Government of India has an official portal where cyber crimes can be reported: cybercrime.gov.in. It is free, 24/7 and you can report even when you do not know who the scammer is.
Visit cybercrime.gov.in. It is the single cyber crime reporting site operated by the government. Do not use third-party complaint websites which can also be scams.
You will have two choices: Report Women/Child Related Crime (sexual harassment, CSAM, sextortion) and Report Other Cyber Crimes (financial fraud, cyber bullying, hacking, and so on). In the case of delivery scams, UPI frauds and internet bullying – choose the second alternative.
Select “File a Complaint. You’ll be asked to log in or register with your mobile number. A one time password will be provided. Do this step, your complaint has to be associated with a verified identity.
This is the most important step. You will be questioned: When did it occur? What type of crime? Which state are you in? Then explain in your own words what happened- be specific. Add dates, value, what was mentioned, what you have clicked, what you have paid.
This is critical. Include photos of the chat, payment receipts, UPI transaction IDs, phone number of the scammer, photos of any QR codes or links provided. The portal allows uploading of images and PDF files.
Insert the phone number, email address, social media account of the scammer or any other account information. Even incomplete information is beneficial to investigators.
Once you have submitted it, you will receive a complaint number (acknowledgement ID). Screenshot and save this. And that is your evidence that the complaint was made. This number will enable you to check the status subsequently on the same portal.
You have to collect all the data in a single folder before opening the portal: screenshots of all messages, your UPI transaction history, the number of the scammer, timestamps of calls. There is a time limit per session in the portal – you would be saved time by being prepared.
This is the question everybody would like to have an answer to and, frankly speaking, the answer it could have been, was determined by the thoroughness of your complaint and the quickness with which you responded to it.
Your complaint is forwarded to the cyber crime cell of the state that the crime has been committed (mostly your home state). Cases are allocated to a case officer. They can get in touch with you to seek further information. In case the scammer had a bank account to receive the money, the authorities could request a freeze, however, it is highly effective when reported in 2472 hours.
Complaining is not a sure way of refunding or being arrested. Small sums (less than ₹5,000) might not result in active investigation. But reporting does not go to waste – your report is one of a pattern that can assist in catching serial offenders, and it can also aid in bank dispute procedures.
Call 1930 – this is the special call center of cyber crimes in India, which can be called in different languages. Should you have been defrauded in a money sense, a call to 1930 as soon as possible will result in a golden hour freeze of the fraudster before they can grab the cash. Every minute counts.
You may also submit an FIR at the nearest police station in terms of the IT Act and IPC (Indian Penal Code). Request the cyber crime division or officer. Be prepared with printouts of your evidence. In case the police are not ready to accept your complaint, demand a written acknowledgement – that is your right of law.
In case money was stolen with the help of UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), call your bank fraud helpline and inform them that they are dealing with unauthorized transactions. Open UPI app, locate the transaction, and tap the Report an issue option, as well. It is possible to undo actions of banks in some cases, however, you should do it within a short period of time.
You were bullied, harassed, or scammed on Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, or Twitter/X – report the account on the platform. Indian users have a legal right to complain about the platforms (as stipulated in the IT Rules 2021 of India) and expect the platform to act upon the complaint within allotted timeframes.
Fraudsters erase the accounts, switch numbers and hide their footprint. Once you know that something is amiss, begin to preserve evidence, even before you know all that has transpired.
The Foxtale/BlueDart scam at the top of this blog is a 100% real story of a known person, the person aware of this cyber bullying or fraud but still the person fell for it, the cyber fraud of a so-called fake delivery agent scam. Herein the psychology of its success:
It feels 100% real. The telephone call is timely. The individual is aware of the brand name. They say they’re outside. It is with haste, I will be away unless you pay now. You are in confirmation mode, rather than suspicion mode.
The most important warning sign that you must never forget: the genuine delivering agents do not request you to scan a QR code to pay. None of them are implementing QR codes in COD (cash on delivery). When someone requests you to scan and pay online calls as a delivery person – hang up. Contact the brand by calling their official site.
Cyber bullying is not all an online drama. To the extent of the IT Act, sending threatening or offensive messages, sharing personal information of a person without permission, as well as repeated harassment of a person through the Internet is a punishable offense – up to 3 years of a prison sentence and fines.
You don’t need to tolerate it. There is no need to work out how to deal with it quietly. Here’s what to do:
First, stop responding. Bullies are usually driven by involvement. Second, take notes on everything – take pictures before blocking. Third, report on the platform. Fourth, file on cybercrime.gov.in on “Cyber Bullying / Stalking / Sexting.” Fifth, in case of threats, visit your local police station and request an FIR under Section 507 IPC (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication).
In case you are a student or minor, your school or college is also bound by POCSO and UGC guidelines to act.,
Prevention is preferable to reporting. Here are habits which require you only seconds, and can make you thousands:
You lost ₹1,360. Or ₹10,000. Or more. And it was not anger, maybe, that was your initial reaction: it was shame. How did I fool myself?
Listen to this: These fraudsters are armed robbers on script. This is the same call which they have made hundreds of times. Their knowledge is when you order, brand knowledge, how to sound real. To fall in love with it does not render one gullible, it only renders him a human being.
The thing now is: you make a complaint. You tell someone. You warn others. Since any report, even one that does not result in an arrest in your case, creates a database that apprehends these people one day.
You were not a fool. You were targeted.
Go to cybercrime.gov.in ↗
Or call helpline: 1930 (24/7, free)
This blog is informative to enable the Indian citizens to go through the process of reporting cyber crimes. A cyber law lawyer should be consulted to provide you with legal advice concerning your case.
Sources: cybercrime.gov.in, MeitY, NPCI, IT Act 2000 & Amendment 2008.
An immediate report of a cyber crime should be made preferably within the first few hours. In cases of financial fraud, the early reporting, in particular through the 1930 helpline, can serve to enable the authorities to make an attempt to freeze the transaction prior to the money being withdrawn or transferred further.
No, it is not mandatory in all cases. To start the process, one has to file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. But in severe instances or cases as ordered by authority, you might have to go to a police station or cyber cell to take further steps.
Yes. Even the partial data like a phone number, UPI ID, or even screenshots may be helpful. Patterns and numerous complaints help authorities monitor offenders, thus, piecemeal data should not make you turn back.
There is no certainty, and recovery. The odds are determined by how promptly you report the incident and whether the money can be tracked down or frozen before it is recovered. Early intervention will go a long way in enhancing chances of recovery.
Yes. Cyber crime reporting in the official portal or helpline is absolutely free of charge. Watch out on third party services or agents who charge to make complaints as they too can be fraudsters.
The Vue Times is an online platform that aims at making complex issues in the areas of technology, finance, public policy and daily matters in India easier. We aim to provide simple, practical and research based information to facilitate comprehension of real life issues and good choices by the readers.
This article has been reviewed and vetted by the editorial team of The Vue Times to guarantee that it is accurate, clear and can be used in practice. The data is informed by publicly available data, formal guidelines and real-world user scenarios in India.
The aim of this article is informational. Although all possible efforts have been taken to be accurate, policies, banking procedures and regulations are subject to change with time. It is recommended that the readers should check the information with the official sources or their concerned banks before making any action.
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