How do I file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in?

Question

I want to report a cyber fraud but don't know the process for the government's cybercrime portal. Specifically, I want to know how Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 154 (via CrPC) applies to a situation like mine and what the cyber law position in India actually is. If there is a deadline I should be aware of, I need to know that now.

MyVakeel Legal Desk · Accepted Answer

How do I file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in? is governed in India primarily by Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 154 (via CrPC), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 – Section 173 and Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 66. Outcomes in cybercrime portal disputes depend heavily on documentation, so check what you can actually evidence as you read.

The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in lets you file complaints for financial fraud, women/child abuse content, and other cyber offences without visiting a police station first.

For financial fraud, use the 'Report Financial Fraud' quick option or call the 1930 helpline; both route the complaint through the RBI-backed Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System that can freeze funds in near real time.

Once submitted, you receive an acknowledgment number; under BNSS Section 173 (equivalent to old CrPC 154), the portal complaint should be converted into a formal FIR by the jurisdictional cyber cell if a cognizable offence is disclosed.

Upload all evidence at the time of filing — screenshots, transaction IDs, phone numbers, UPI handles — since the portal does not always allow easy amendment later.

You can track the status using the acknowledgment number, and if there is no action within a reasonable time you may follow up directly with the state cyber cell or file a grievance with the police commissioner.

What to do next: 1) Go to cybercrime.gov.in and select the relevant complaint category; 2) Fill in incident details and upload evidence such as screenshots and bank statements; 3) Note down the acknowledgment number for tracking; 4) Follow up with the local cyber cell if no action within 2-3 weeks.

If you are unsure whether your facts fall inside Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 154 (via CrPC), that is worth checking with an advocate before you commit to a route, because switching later costs time. You can post the details on the MyVakeel forum for a practising advocate to review, or book a paid consultation with a Bar Council verified lawyer in cyber law.