Reporting fraud is the step that makes everything else possible. Without a complaint on record, banks and other offices cannot act on your case. There are two ways to report, and you should do both.
Keep these ready first
- Your name, phone number, and email.
- Your bank name and account number.
- The amount lost and the date you got the bank's SMS.
- Any transaction ID, UPI reference, or screenshots you have.
The fastest path is to call 1930
In the first hours, the phone is faster than the website. The helpline is free and works all day and night. They can begin the process of freezing the money while it is still in the scammer's account. For most people, calling 1930 early is the single most useful thing they do.
File online at cybercrime.gov.in
- Go to cybercrime.gov.in and choose to report a financial fraud.
- Create a login with your mobile number and verify the OTP.
- Fill in what happened, the amount, and the date of the bank's alert.
- Upload your screenshots and bank messages as proof.
- Submit and note down the complaint ID you receive.
How to check your complaint later
The portal lets you log back in with the same mobile number to see the status of your complaint. In the first days the status may not change much, which is normal. Keep your complaint ID handy and check every few days rather than every few hours.
After you file
Send a written complaint to your bank as well, and keep a copy for yourself. If your bank does not sort it out within the time it should, you can take the matter to the RBI Ombudsman for free at cms.rbi.org.in. You do not need a lawyer for any of this.
Common questions
Is 1930 free to call?
Yes. 1930 is a free national helpline and it works 24 hours a day, every day. You will never be charged, and a real helpline will never ask you to pay to recover your money.
Do I have to do both the call and the online complaint?
It is best to do both. The call is faster for freezing money in the first hours. The online complaint creates the full written record that your bank and the ombudsman need later.
What if I do not have the transaction ID or screenshots?
File anyway. Put in whatever you have, like the amount, the date, and the bank's message. You can add more details later. A complaint with some information is far better than no complaint at all.
How long before I hear back?
It varies. Simple cases can move within days, others take longer. Keep following up with your bank using your complaint ID, and escalate to the RBI Ombudsman if the bank misses its deadline.
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