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Cyber Crime Victim? Your Rights and Where to Report
India has dedicated online and phone channels for cyber crime, plus statutory protections under the IT Act and BNS. Here's what qualifies, where to file, and what evidence to preserve.
Governing law: Information Technology Act, 2000; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cyber crime in India includes online financial fraud, phishing, identity theft, cyber-stalking, non-consensual intimate imagery, ransomware, hacking, and social media impersonation. Two dedicated channels exist for reporting: the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) for written complaints, and the toll-free helpline 1930 for immediate reporting of financial fraud (calling within the "golden hour" of the first few hours can sometimes freeze fraudulent transactions before they leave the recipient bank). All Indian citizens have the right to file a First Information Report at any police station regardless of jurisdiction — cyber crime is a "zero FIR" category.
Frequently Asked Questions
I lost money to an online scam. What should I do RIGHT NOW?
Call 1930 immediately — this is the national cyber crime helpline. If reported within the first few hours ("golden hour"), the receiving bank can sometimes freeze the money before it is withdrawn or transferred further. Simultaneously file a written complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with all evidence you have: screenshots of the fraudulent messages/site, transaction IDs, UPI/bank statements showing the debit, any phone numbers used by the scammer. Also inform your own bank in writing to lodge a dispute — under RBI rules, timely reporting can limit or eliminate your liability for unauthorised transactions.
Source: National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal; RBI Master Direction on Digital Payment Security Controls
Someone is stalking me / impersonating me online. Where do I file?
File at cybercrime.gov.in and also at your nearest police station — cyber crime is a "zero FIR" category, meaning any police station must register the FIR regardless of where the offence took place, and transfer it to the appropriate jurisdiction later. Preserve all evidence: screenshots (with visible date/time/URL), account IDs of the impersonator, any messages. The main sections that apply include IT Act Section 66C (identity theft), 66D (cheating by impersonation), 66E (violation of privacy), and 67 (obscene content); plus BNS Sections 78 (stalking), 79 (word/act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and 356 (defamation) where applicable.
Source: Information Technology Act 2000, Sections 66C, 66D, 66E, 67; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023
Intimate images of me were shared without my consent. What can I do?
This is a serious criminal offence. Report immediately at cybercrime.gov.in — the portal has a specific "Report Women/Child Related Crime" section which allows anonymous reporting. Simultaneously request removal from the hosting platform (most major platforms have expedited takedown for non-consensual intimate imagery). Preserve URL evidence WITHOUT sharing or re-uploading. Applicable law includes IT Act Section 66E (violation of privacy) and Section 67A (transmission of sexually explicit material), plus BNS provisions. If the perpetrator is known, you can also seek a civil injunction restraining further sharing.
Source: Information Technology Act 2000, Sections 66E and 67A
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Educational content, not legal advice. These explainers summarise general legal positions and cite the underlying statutes; they do not replace advice tailored to your specific situation. Consult an advocate for anything you plan to act on.