A cyber fraud complaint in India should start as soon as the unauthorised payment or deception is discovered. For financial cyber fraud, the national reporting route is helpline 1930 and the portal cybercrime.gov.in.
Fast reporting matters because banks and payment intermediaries may be able to mark or hold funds before they move again. Recovery is not guaranteed.
Call 1930 first
Use the mobile number linked to the affected account when possible. Be ready with:
- your name and contact number;
- bank, wallet or merchant name;
- account, card or UPI details needed to identify the transaction, without sharing a PIN or one-time code;
- transaction ID, amount, date and time;
- the phone number, account or UPI ID used by the suspected fraudster;
- screenshots or messages showing what happened.
The call handler can generate an acknowledgement number. Write it down exactly.
Complete the portal complaint
Official guidance for the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System says a complainant who reports by phone should use the acknowledgement number to complete registration on the portal within the stated window, generally 24 hours.
Go directly to cybercrime.gov.in. Do not follow a link sent by someone claiming to be an investigator. Choose the financial fraud reporting route, sign in with the same mobile number and complete the details.
Upload clear copies of relevant evidence. Keep the original files and do not edit screenshots in a way that removes timestamps or account identifiers.
Contact the bank or payment provider
Call the bank, wallet or payment app using its official number. Ask for the transaction to be marked as fraud and for the account or instrument to be secured. Request a complaint or service number.
If credentials were exposed, change passwords from a trusted device. Block the card or payment handle when advised. Never move remaining money to a “safe account” suggested by a caller.
Preserve the money trail
Keep:
- transaction confirmations;
- bank statements;
- UPI reference numbers;
- email headers and full message text;
- phone numbers and call times;
- website addresses;
- chat exports and profile links;
- the 1930 acknowledgement and bank complaint number.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has described the reporting system as a way to bring law enforcement, banks and payment intermediaries together quickly. Clear identifiers help them trace the path.
What 1930 does not mean
Calling 1930 is a report, not a promise that money will return. It also does not replace every step your bank or local police may require.
Do not pay anyone who claims they can release frozen funds or accelerate the complaint. Government portals do not need your banking PIN, card CVV or one-time password.
If the fraud is still in progress
Stop screen sharing and disconnect remote-access software. Use another trusted device to contact the bank if the phone may be compromised. Tell family or colleagues if the attacker is impersonating you.
If the incident involved threats, stalking, sexual material or danger to a person, use the relevant emergency and police channels in addition to the cybercrime portal.
A reporting checklist
- Call 1930 immediately.
- Record the acknowledgement.
- Notify the bank or payment provider.
- Complete the complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
- Upload transaction evidence.
- Save every reference number.
- Follow official updates, not incoming recovery offers.
For impersonation threats, our guide to digital arrest scams explains the tactics Indian agencies have warned about. Official portal and Ministry guidance were checked on 9 October 2026.
