How to Report Cybercrime in India (and Get Your Money Back)
Call 1930 first. A step-by-step guide to India's cyber-fraud reporting: the 1930 helpline, cybercrime.gov.in, and how the CFCFRMS golden hour helps freeze and recover stolen money.
Quick answer: The moment money leaves your account, call 1930 — India’s national cyber-fraud helpline — and file at cybercrime.gov.in. Reporting in the golden hour gives the best chance of freezing the money.
Report it in 3 steps
- Call 1930 immediately. The national helpline can start tracing and freezing the transfer within the golden hour.
- File at cybercrime.gov.in. Lodge the full complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal with all evidence.
- Follow up with your cyber cell. Get an acknowledgement number and, where needed, an FIR from your state cyber crime unit.
How your money gets recovered
India runs one of the most active state-backed recovery systems in the world. The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) — the engine behind 1930 — traces the transfer through the banking chain and freezes it before the fraudster cashes out. It has already saved citizens more than ₹7,130 crore.
What to have ready
- The transaction ID / UTR number and the time of the transfer
- Your bank account or UPI details
- The fraudster’s phone number, UPI ID or website
- Screenshots of messages, payment pages and any app you were asked to install
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call to report cyber fraud in India? 1930, the national cyber-fraud helpline.
How quickly should I report? Within the hour if possible — the sooner you call 1930, the better the chance of a freeze.
What is a digital arrest scam? A fraud where callers pose as police and stage a fake video ‘arrest’ to extort money. No real agency does this — hang up and report it.
Sources
For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.