Cyber Crime Reporting: How to Complain About Online Fraud and Harassment in India (2026)

With the rapid adoption of digital payments (UPI), internet banking, and social media in India, cybercrimes like financial fraud, identity theft, and online harassment have become an unfortunate daily reality for many citizens. When your hard-earned money is stolen online (paise kat gaye) or you face digital harassment, knowing exactly where and how to complain is your strongest defense.

This comprehensive, step-by-step guide is designed to help common Indian citizens navigate the official government portals to report cybercrimes effectively. This guide strictly follows the official Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).

1. Who Needs This Service? (Eligibility)

The official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and associated helplines are completely free and open to everyone. You need this service if:

• Victims of Financial Fraud: Any Indian citizen, NRI, or business entity whose money has been stolen via UPI scams, credit/debit card fraud, fake investment schemes, or phishing links.

• Victims of Harassment: Anyone facing social media harassment, cyberstalking, deepfake morphing, non-consensual sharing of images, or cyberbullying.

• Spam & Phishing Targets: Citizens receiving fake job offers, malicious WhatsApp links, or suspicious SMS/calls (vishing/smishing).

2. Required Documents and Evidence

Before you begin the cyber crime reporting process online or offline, you must gather your evidence. Do not delete any chats, emails, or SMS notifications. The portal allows file uploads (JPEG, PNG, PDF, MP4) with a maximum size of 5 MB for ID proofs and 10 MB for evidence files.

Mandatory Documents for All Complaints:

• Complainant’s National ID Proof: A soft copy of your Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Driving License, or Passport.

• Active Mobile Number & Email ID: Required for OTP verification and case tracking.

Evidence Required for Financial Frauds (UPI, Bank, Wallets):

• 12-Digit Transaction ID / UTR Number: This is the most critical piece of information. You can find this in your bank statement or UPI app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm).

• Bank Account Statement: Showing the fraudulent debit. Obtain the last 6 months’ statement if possible.

• Screenshots of Communication: Screenshots of the SMS received during the transaction, or WhatsApp chats/emails with the fraudster.

• Fraudster’s Details (if available): The bank account number or UPI ID where your money was transferred.

Evidence Required for Social Media Harassment & Cyberbullying:

• Exact URLs/Links: The profile link of the abuser (e.g., www.facebook.com/fake_profile_123). Do not just provide the username; provide the full URL.

• Screenshots & Screen Recordings: Capture the abusive comments, morphed images, or threatening messages. Make sure the timestamp and the abuser’s username are visible.

• Full Email Headers: If harassed via email, download the original email header to help police trace the IP address.

Evidence Required for Data Theft or Business Email Compromise:

• Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), copyright certificates, or compromised email logs.

3. The Golden Hour: Immediate Action for Financial Fraud (Call 1930)

If you have just lost money to an online scam, do not wait to file an online written complaint first. India operates a dedicated Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS).

Step 1: Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 immediately. (Available 24×7). Step 2: Provide the operator with your bank details, the UTR/Transaction ID, and the fraudster’s account details. Step 3: The 1930 operator will instantly alert the connected banks and digital wallets to freeze the stolen funds before the scammer can withdraw them. Step 4: After the call, you will receive an SMS with an Acknowledgement Number. You must log in to the portal within 24 hours to complete the formal written complaint.

4. Step-by-Step Online Application Process

If you need to report harassment, or if you are formally registering a financial fraud complaint, you must use the official government portal.

Official Portal: [suspicious link removed]

Phase A: Registration and Login

1. Go to the Official Portal: Open your browser and visit [suspicious link removed]. (Note: Ensure the URL ends in .gov.in to avoid fake websites).

2. Select Complaint Category: On the homepage, you will see two main red buttons:

   • Report Women/Child Related Crime: (Can be reported anonymously).

   • Report Other Cyber Crime: (For financial frauds, hacking, identity theft, etc.). Click this for financial issues.

3. Click ‘File a Complaint’: Read the terms and conditions popup and click “I Accept”.

4. Citizen Login / New User: * If you are a new user, click “Click Here for New User”.

   • Select your State from the dropdown menu.

   • Enter your Email ID (used as Login ID) and your active Mobile Number.

   • Click “Get OTP”.

5. Verify OTP: Enter the OTP received on your phone, fill in the Captcha code, and click Submit.

6. Complete User Profile: Fill in your basic details: Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Father’s Name, and Permanent Address. Click “Save & Continue”.

Phase B: Filling the 4-Part Complaint Form

Once your profile is set up, the actual Cybercrime Complaint Form opens. It is divided into four tabs.

Tab 1: Incident Details

• Category of Complaint: Select the broad category from the dropdown (e.g., Online Financial Fraud, Social Media Crime, Hacking).

• Sub-Category: Be specific. For financial fraud, choose options like UPI Related Frauds, Debit/Credit Card Fraud, or Internet Banking Related Fraud.

• Did you lose money? Select Yes or No. If Yes, a new section will appear asking for the Bank Name, Account Number, UTR Number, and Fraudulent Amount.

• Date and Time of Incident: Enter the exact timestamp when the crime occurred.

• Is there a delay in reporting? If it has been days or weeks since the incident, select Yes and provide a brief reason (e.g., Was unaware of the fraud, Bank delayed the statement).

• Where did the incident occur? Select the platform (Email, Facebook, WhatsApp, Website).

• Supporting Evidence: Upload your screenshots, bank statements, and PDFs here. (Screenshot desc: A grey upload box with a “Choose File” button. Max 10MB limit displayed).

• Incident Description: Write a clear, factual summary of what happened (minimum 200 characters). Do not use special characters like #$@^*.

Tab 2: Suspect Details (Optional but Highly Recommended)

• If you know anything about the fraudster, enter it here.

• Provide their mobile number, email ID, bank account number, or social media URL.

• You can also upload a photograph of the suspect if they used one on WhatsApp/Facebook.

• Click “Save as Draft & Next”.

Tab 3: Complainant Details

• Your name and contact details will auto-fill from your profile.

• Relation to Victim: Select ‘Self’ if you are the victim, or specify if you are filing for a family member.

• Upload ID Proof: Select your national ID type (e.g., Aadhaar) and upload the soft copy (Max 5MB).

• Click “Save & Preview”.

Tab 4: Preview & Submit

• A complete summary of your application will appear. Verify every single digit of your UTR number and phone numbers.

• Click the “I Agree” checkbox for the declaration.

• Click “Confirm and Submit”.

• Crucial Step: You will immediately see an Acknowledgement Number on the screen. Write this down. Click “Download PDF” to save a copy of your official complaint.

5. Alternative Reporting for Suspected Spam & Links (Sanchar Saathi)

If you have not lost money yet, but you are receiving fake SMS links, spam WhatsApp calls from international numbers, or impersonation calls (e.g., “CBI/Customs arrest” scams), use the Chakshu Facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal.

1. Go to official portal: https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc

2. Select Report Type: Choose “Report Suspected Fraud Communication” or “Report Suspected Web Links”.

3. Fill the Form: Enter the spammer’s phone number or the malicious link, the category (e.g., Fake KYC, Sextortion), the date received, and a screenshot of the message.

4. Submit within 30 days: Telecom operators use this data to block the numbers and URLs at the network level.

6. Offline Process: District Cyber Police Stations

If you are unable to navigate the online portal, or if the crime involves physical threats, severe financial loss (running into lakhs/crores), or complex corporate data theft, you should file a physical complaint.

1. Locate your nearest Cyber Cell: Every major Indian city (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai) has dedicated District Cyber Police Stations. If your town does not have a dedicated Cyber Cell, you can visit any local police station.

2. The Zero FIR Rule: Cybercrimes have no geographical boundaries. Under Indian Law, you can file a “Zero FIR” at any police station, regardless of where the crime occurred or where you live. The police cannot refuse your complaint citing “jurisdiction issues”.

3. Drafting the Complaint Application: Address the letter to the “Head of Cyber Crime Cell” or “Station House Officer (SHO)”. Clearly state the timeline of events, amount lost, and suspect details.

4. Submit Hard Copies of Evidence: Print out all bank statements, email headers, and screenshots. For digital evidence (like call recordings or videos), burn them onto a CD-R or DVD and submit it along with the written application. Do not hand over your phone unless officially seized under a memo.

7. How to Check Status / Track Application

Once your online complaint is submitted, it is routed to the nodal officer of your specific State/UT police department for investigation.

1. Go to official portal: [suspicious link removed]

2. Click on “Track Your Complaint”: Located on the top menu bar.

3. Enter Details: Input your Acknowledgement Number (e.g., 240120620189XXXXXXXXX).

4. Verify: Click “Get OTP”, enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, and click Submit.

5. Status Stages: You will see statuses like Pending, Under Investigation, Action Taken, or Disposed. If an FIR is registered based on your complaint, the FIR number will be updated here.

8. Common Problems and Solutions

Citizens frequently face technical or administrative hurdles when filing cyber complaints. Here are the 5 most frequent errors and their exact solutions:

Error 1: OTP Not Received on Mobile Number

• The Problem: Network congestion or DND settings blocking government SMS gateways.

• The Solution: Wait for 2-3 minutes before clicking “Resend”. If it still fails, try logging in using an alternative email ID as the Login ID, or clear your browser cache and disable VPNs. Ensure your SIM card has active incoming validity.

Error 2: “Invalid UTR/Transaction ID” Error

• The Problem: The portal rejects the Transaction ID format while filing financial fraud details.

• The Solution: Ensure you are entering the 12-digit UTR (Unique Transaction Reference) number, not the merchant order ID or the UPI app’s internal reference number. Look at your official bank SMS for the exact 12-digit numeric code.

Error 3: File Upload Fails / Size Limit Exceeded

• The Problem: High-resolution screenshots from modern smartphones often exceed the 5MB (for ID) or 10MB (for evidence) limits.

• The Solution: Use free online image compressors or simply send the image to yourself on WhatsApp and download it back (WhatsApp automatically compresses images to under 1MB). Ensure the format is strictly JPG, JPEG, PNG, or PDF.

Error 4: “Session Expired” While Filling the Form

• The Problem: The portal times out for security reasons if you take too long to write the incident description.

• The Solution: Type your detailed incident description in a Notepad or Word document first. When you log into the portal, simply copy and paste the text to avoid timing out. Always click “Save as Draft & Next” periodically.

Error 5: Local Police Station Refusing to File an FIR

• The Problem: Physical police stations sometimes ask victims to “go to the cyber cell” instead of taking the complaint.

• The Solution: Remind the duty officer of Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which mandates registering an FIR for cognizable offenses. If they still refuse, file the complaint online on cybercrime.gov.in. Online complaints are strictly monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the local police are mandated to act on them.

9. Official Helpline Numbers and Contact Details

Only trust verified government channels. Scammers often post fake “Cyber Crime Helpline” numbers on Google/Twitter. Never pay any fee to register a cyber complaint.

• National Cyber Crime Financial Fraud Helpline: 1930 (Available 24×7. Call this immediately if money is debited).

• National Emergency Number (Police/Ambulance): 112

• National Women Helpline: 181

• Child Helpline: 1098

• Official Reporting Portal: www.cybercrime.gov.in

• Spam/Phishing Link Reporting: www.sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc

State-Specific Cyber Cell Emails (Examples for Major Hubs):

• Delhi Police Cyber Crime Unit: cybercell-central@delhipolice.gov.in

• Maharashtra Cyber Dept: ig.cbr-mah@gov.in / Helpdesk: 022-22160080

• Bangalore (Karnataka) Cyber Police: 112 / 080-22942349

(Note: State emails are for correspondence; complaints must still be initiated via 1930 or the national portal for proper tracking).

This information is from official sources as of February 2026. Always verify on the official portal [suspicious link removed] for the latest updates.