How to report cybercrime on the official portal (cybercrime.gov.in)

Your friend’s account was hacked, and now it’s sending you shady links. Or worse, someone is using your photos to create a fake profile on Telegram. You might think blocking them is enough, but that just lets them move on to the next victim. Whether it is a ₹50,000 UPI scam or a deepfake video, the law allows you to report these crimes from your phone without stepping into a police station immediately.

What the law actually says

Cybercrime in India is governed primarily by the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (which replaced the IPC on July 1, 2024).

The Cyber Crime reporting portal is a central initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to let you file complaints for crimes committed in the digital space. Under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, you can now report crimes electronically, and the police are required to register the information.

Key legal provisions you should know:

• Identity Theft (Section 66C, IT Act): If someone uses your password, digital signature, or unique identification (like your Aadhaar or PAN) to commit fraud.
• Cheating by Personation (Section 66D, IT Act): If someone creates a fake profile pretending to be you or a celebrity to scam others.
• Privacy Violation (Section 66E, IT Act): Capturing or publishing private images of someone without their consent.
• Stalking (Section 78, BNS): Monitoring a woman's use of the internet, email, or any other form of electronic communication after she has clearly indicated a lack of interest.
• Insulting Modesty (Section 79, BNS): Using words, gestures, or sounds (including digital messages) intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
• Mandatory Reporting (POCSO Act, 2012): If the crime involves a minor, Section 19 of the POCSO Act makes it mandatory for any person who knows about the crime to report it.

For financial fraud, the government operates the 1930 helpline. This is linked to the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System. If you report a scam within the 'Golden Hour' (the first 1-2 hours), the authorities can often freeze the money in the scammer's bank account before they withdraw it.

Step-by-step playbook

Step 1: Secure the evidence immediately

Before you block the person or delete the chat, you need proof. Digital evidence is fragile.

• Screenshots: Capture the profile page of the suspect, the specific messages, the timestamps, and the mobile number or email ID involved.
• URL/Links: Copy the exact link to the fake profile or the malicious post. A screenshot of a profile named "Rahul" isn't enough; the police need the unique URL (e.g., instagram.com/user_123).
• Bank Records: If money was stolen, download your bank statement or take a screenshot of the UPI transaction ID and the 'debit' SMS you received.
• Email Headers: If the crime happened via email, don't just forward it. Save the email as a .eml file or 'show original' to see the IP address of the sender.

Step 2: Call 1930 (For Financial Fraud only)

If you have lost money from your bank account or wallet:

• Dial 1930 immediately. This is a national helpline available 24/7.
• Provide your name, mobile number, the bank name/wallet name from which money was deducted, and the transaction ID.
• The operator will register a formal complaint on the portal for you and alert the banks involved to stop the transaction.

Step 3: Access the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal

Visit cybercrime.gov.in. You will see two main options:

1. Report Crime Related to Women/Children: Use this for cyberstalking, bullying, or sharing private photos/videos. You can choose to report anonymously here, though providing details helps in prosecution.
2. Report Other Cyber Crime: Use this for financial fraud, hacking, or identity theft.

Step 4: Register and Login

• Click on 'File a Complaint'.
• Accept the terms and conditions.
• Select 'Report and Track'. You will need to register using your mobile number and an OTP.
• Create a profile with your basic details (Name, Address, Email).

Step 5: Fill in the Incident Details

This is the most critical part. You will be asked for:

• Category of Crime: Select the most relevant one (e.g., 'Online Social Media Crimes' or 'Financial Fraud').
• Platform: (e.g., WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook).
• Date and Time: Be as precise as possible.
• Incident Description: Write a clear, factual account. Avoid emotional language. Example: "On 2026-07-15 at 14:00, I received a WhatsApp message from +91-XXXXX claiming to be a bank officer. I shared an OTP, and ₹10,000 was debited from my SBI account (Transaction ID: 12345)."
• Upload Evidence: Attach the screenshots and files you collected in Step 1.

Step 6: Provide Suspect Details

If you know who did it, or if you have their handle/number, enter it here. If you don't know the person, you can leave it as 'Unknown'. If they used a specific website or app, mention those details in the 'Suspect Name' or 'Additional Information' boxes.

Step 7: Review and Submit

• Review the summary of your complaint.
• Once submitted, you will receive an Acknowledgement Number via SMS and email.
• Download the PDF copy of your complaint. This is your official record.

Step 8: What happens next?

Your complaint is automatically forwarded to the Cyber Cell of the police station in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.

• A police officer may call you to verify details or ask you to visit the station to sign the physical copy of the FIR.
• If the police refuse to take action after you have the portal acknowledgement, you can refer to our guide on How to file an FIR (and what to do if police refuse).
• For cases involving workplace harassment that moved online, you should also check your rights under POSH at workplace and college.

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Where it usually breaks

Reporting a crime online sounds smooth, but the "offline" reality of Indian policing often creates friction. Here is how to handle the most common roadblocks:

1. The "Jurisdiction" Gaslight You go to your local police station with your portal acknowledgement, and the officer says, "This happened online, go to the main Cyber Cell in the city," or "The scammer is in Jamtara, go file there."

• The Workaround: Under Section 173 of the BNSS, you have the right to file a 'Zero FIR' at any police station regardless of where the crime happened. Remind them politely that the National Cyber Crime Portal automatically forwards the complaint to the relevant station based on your address. If they still refuse, ask for the 'Station Diary' (SD) entry number for their refusal.

2. Portal Technical Glitches The cybercrime.gov.in portal is notorious for not sending OTPs or crashing when you upload large video files.

• The Workaround: If the OTP doesn't arrive, try using a different browser (Firefox often works better than Chrome for govt sites) or clear your cache. For evidence, the portal usually has a 5MB limit per file. Use a "PDF compressor" or "Video compressor" online to shrink your files before uploading. If the portal is completely down, send an email to the Nodal Officer of your state (list available on the portal’s 'Contact Us' page).

3. The 1930 Helpline is Busy During peak scam hours, the 1930 line might be busy or put you on a long hold.

• The Workaround: Do not wait. If you can't get through in 5 minutes, immediately go to the portal and file the "Financial Fraud" complaint yourself. The "Golden Hour" is about getting the transaction ID into the system so the bank can freeze the funds; the portal does this just as effectively as the phone call.

Templates / script

Script for calling 1930 (Financial Fraud)

"Hello, I am reporting a fresh financial fraud that happened [Number of minutes] minutes ago. My name is [Your Name]. I have lost ₹[Amount] from my [Bank Name] account via [UPI/Credit Card/Net Banking]. The transaction ID is [ID from your SMS]. Please flag this on the CFCFRMS system immediately to freeze the recipient's account. I am also filing a formal complaint on the portal right now."

Email template to the Nodal Officer (If local police don't act)

Subject: Complaint regarding non-action on Cybercrime Acknowledgement No: [Your Number]

Body: Dear Sir/Madam, I filed a cybercrime complaint on [Date] regarding [Identity Theft/Financial Fraud/Harassment] via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. My acknowledgement number is [Number].

I approached the [Name of Police Station] on [Date], but the officers refused to register an FIR, citing [Reason they gave]. Under Section 173 of the BNSS, the police are mandated to record information regarding cognizable offences.

Attached is the evidence and the portal summary. I request your intervention to ensure the complaint is processed as per MHA guidelines.

Regards, [Your Name] [Your Phone Number]

Text for "Description" box on the portal

Keep it factual and chronological. "On [Date] at [Time], I received a [Call/Message] from [Number/Handle]. The person claimed to be [Identity]. They induced me to [Click a link/Share an OTP/Send photos]. At [Time], I realized it was a scam/harassment. I have attached screenshots of the chat, the profile URL [Link], and the bank debit SMS. I have not deleted any original messages."

FAQs

1. Can I report a crime anonymously? Yes, but only for "Report Crime Related to Women/Children" (like non-consensual sharing of private images or child pomography). For financial frauds or identity theft, you must provide your details so the police can contact you for the investigation and the banks can process your refund.

2. What if I accidentally deleted the chat or evidence? Don't panic. If it was on WhatsApp or Instagram, the police can request data from the service providers (Meta), though this takes time. Check if you have a Google Drive/iCloud backup of your chats or if you previously forwarded the messages to a friend. Even a bank statement showing the money trail is a strong starting point.

3. Is there a fee for filing a complaint on the portal? No. Reporting a crime on cybercrime.gov.in or calling 1930 is completely free. If anyone claiming to be a "Cyber Cell Officer" or "Recovery Agent" asks for a "processing fee" or "file charge" to get your money back, they are scammers themselves.

4. Will the police come to my house after I report? In most cases, no. For minor frauds or harassment, they might call you to the station to sign a hard copy of your statement. For serious offences, they might visit the 'scene of crime' (your computer/office), but they generally prefer communicating via phone or email for initial steps.

5. How do I check the status of my complaint? Go to the 'Check Status' section on the cybercrime.gov.in homepage. You will need your Acknowledgement Number. The status will show which police station/unit your case has been assigned to. If it says "Pending" for more than 15 days, use the Nodal Officer email template provided above.

6. Can I report a crime that happened to my friend? Yes. You can report on behalf of someone else, especially in cases of harassment or if the victim is a minor. However, the police will eventually need to record the actual victim's statement to build a legal case. Provide the victim's contact details in the description.