Cybercrime Guide — Updated 2026

How to File a Cybercrime Complaint in India

For financial fraud — call 1930 right now and then file online at cybercrime.gov.in. Acting in the golden hour (first 1-2 hours) dramatically improves your chances of recovering lost money.

Financial Cyber Fraud?

Call immediately — every minute matters

1930

How to File a Cybercrime Complaint — Step by Step

Call 1930 Immediately

For financial cyber fraud (UPI, banking, wallet fraud), call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 immediately. Time is critical — the first few hours determine if the money can be frozen before it is transferred out.

Go to cybercrime.gov.in

Visit the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in. Click 'File a Complaint'. For financial crimes, choose 'Report Financial Fraud'. For other cybercrimes, choose 'Report Other Cyber Crime'.

Create an Account or Login

Register on the portal with your mobile number. An OTP will be sent to verify your number. Login to proceed with the complaint.

Fill in Complaint Details

Provide the incident details: date and time of fraud, amount lost, mode of fraud (UPI, card, net banking), the fraudster's account/phone number if known, and any transaction IDs.

Upload Evidence

Upload screenshots, transaction records, emails, messages, or any other evidence of the cybercrime. Clear evidence significantly improves investigation speed.

Submit and Note Acknowledgement

Submit the complaint. You will receive an acknowledgement number. Save it — you will need it to track your complaint and if you need to escalate to a physical FIR.

The Golden Hour — Act Fast

The first 1-2 hours after fraud are critical to recover your money.

Banks and UPI systems can freeze fraudulent transactions before the money is withdrawn — but only if cybercrime police raise an alert in time. Calling 1930 immediately triggers this bank alert mechanism. After 2-3 hours, the money is often withdrawn or transferred multiple times, making recovery near-impossible.

What to Do for Each Type of Cybercrime

Cybercrime Type	Recommended Action
UPI / Payment App Fraud	Call 1930 immediately, then file online
Bank / Credit Card Fraud	Block card with bank, then call 1930
Online Shopping Scam	File at cybercrime.gov.in
Investment / Trading Scam	File at cybercrime.gov.in + police FIR
Social Media Impersonation	Report to platform + cybercrime.gov.in
Sextortion / Blackmail	cybercrime.gov.in or local cyber cell FIR
Phishing Email / SMS	File at cybercrime.gov.in + report.phishing.gov.in
Ransomware / Hacking	Cyber cell FIR + CERT-In at cert-in.org.in
Cyberbullying / Harassment	cybercrime.gov.in — can be anonymous
Child Sexual Abuse Material	Anonymous at cybercrime.gov.in or 1098 (Childline)

Evidence to Collect Before Filing

Transaction Records

UPI transaction ID, bank statement, payment receipt

Screenshots

Fraud website, chat conversations, emails, social media posts

Caller / Sender Details

Phone number, email address, social media profile URL

Bank Details

Account number money was sent to, IFSC code if known

Device Info

Device used, apps involved, website URLs

Witness Information

Anyone who saw or has relevant information

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cybercrime helpline number in India?

The national cybercrime helpline number is 1930. Call it immediately for financial cyber fraud like UPI fraud, bank account fraud, credit card fraud, or online scams. The sooner you call, the higher the chance of freezing the fraudulent transaction before the money is withdrawn.

What is the golden hour for cybercrime complaints?

The 'golden hour' in cybercrime is the first 1-2 hours after a financial fraud. During this window, law enforcement can contact the receiving bank and freeze the fraudulent transfer before the money is moved or withdrawn. Reporting within this golden hour dramatically increases your chances of recovering the money.

Can I file a cybercrime FIR at my local police station?

Yes. You can file a cybercrime FIR at your local police station, especially if the online portal has not led to action. For serious cybercrimes (financial fraud above ₹1 lakh, harassment, threats, identity theft), it is advisable to file an FIR at your nearest Cyber Cell or local police station. Take the acknowledgement number from cybercrime.gov.in with you.

What types of cybercrime can I report at cybercrime.gov.in?

You can report: financial fraud (UPI, credit/debit card, net banking, wallet fraud, investment scams), social media fraud and impersonation, online shopping fraud, email phishing and spam, ransomware, hacking and unauthorized access, cyberbullying and online harassment, child pornography (anonymous reporting), and other internet-based crimes.

File Online Complaint

National Cyber Crime Portal

Call 1930

Financial fraud helpline

Report Phishing

Govt phishing report portal

Find Your Local Cyber Cell

Visit the nearest police station or dedicated cyber cell for an FIR.

Find Station Near Me

How to File an FIR Helpline Numbers Citizen Rights Women Helpline