How To · Cybercrime · Complaint and Tracking
How to File a Cybercrime Complaint and Track It
A cybercrime complaint in India can be filed online at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, cybercrime.gov.in, or in person at a cyber police station or any police station. The portal handles both financial fraud, where speed can freeze the money, and other online crimes such as hacking, impersonation, stalking and obscene content. For financial fraud you should also call 1930 at once. This page explains how to choose the right complaint type, what details to keep ready, how to file step by step, how to track the complaint with your acknowledgement number, and what happens when the police convert it into a formal criminal case. It is general information for India, not legal advice. Last verified October 2026.
- Where: cybercrime.gov.in, or any police station or cyber cell in person.
- For money fraud: call 1930 first, then file online, to try to freeze the funds.
- Keep ready: mobile and ID, incident details, suspect details, and evidence files.
- Track: log in and use Check Status with your acknowledgement number.
- Next: an FIR turns the complaint into a criminal case that moves through the courts.
01Which complaint type to choose
On cybercrime.gov.in there are two main routes. Pick the right one:
- Report Financial Fraud: money lost through UPI, card, net banking, wallet or a fake investment or job scam. For this, call 1930 first, because a fast report can get the money frozen.
- Report Other Cybercrime: hacking, data theft, social media impersonation, cyberstalking, matrimonial or sextortion fraud, and online harassment.
There is also a dedicated route for complaints about child sexual abuse material and other serious content, which can be filed anonymously. Choose the category that fits, because it decides which unit handles your complaint.
02What you need ready
A complete complaint moves faster. Keep these ready:
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your mobile number and email | Needed to register and get the OTP and updates |
| A government ID | Identifies you as the complainant |
| Date, time and description of the incident | The core facts of the crime |
| Suspect details you have | Phone number, email, UPI ID, URL, social media handle, account number |
| Evidence files | Screenshots, chats, emails, transaction receipts, call logs |
| For money fraud, the transaction trail | Amount, reference IDs and your account or card number |
Save evidence as image or PDF files before you start, because the portal asks you to upload them during filing. Do not edit the screenshots.
03File step by step
The online flow is straightforward:
- 1. Open the portal at cybercrime.gov.in and choose your complaint category.
- 2. Register or log in with your mobile number and verify with the OTP.
- 3. Fill the incident details: what happened, when, and the suspect information you have.
- 4. Upload the evidence files and your ID.
- 5. Review and submit. Note down the acknowledgement number shown on the screen.
You can also file in person. A cyber police station, or any police station under the zero-FIR rule, must record your complaint regardless of where the crime happened. Carry printouts of your evidence.
04Track your complaint
Use the acknowledgement number to follow the complaint:
- Log in to cybercrime.gov.in and open "Check Status" to see the current stage.
- For a financial fraud report, call 1930 with the number for an update on any freeze.
- Follow up at the cyber police station handling your case and ask for the name and contact of the investigating officer.
If a phone number or SIM was used against you, you can separately report it on Sanchar Saathi at sancharsaathi.gov.in.
05If the portal does not help
If your complaint stalls, you have further options:
- Visit the police station in person and insist on registration. If a cognizable offence is disclosed, the police must register an FIR.
- Approach a senior officer such as the Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner if the station refuses.
- File a complaint before the Magistrate under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 if the police will not act, asking the court to direct an investigation.
Keep copies of everything you file and every acknowledgement, because they prove you reported promptly.
06When it becomes a criminal case
Once the police register an FIR, your complaint becomes a formal criminal case. Cyber offences are charged under the Information Technology Act 2000 read with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, which replaced the old Penal Code for offences on or after 1 July 2024, and the case then moves through the criminal courts. The section numbering under the new codes is recent, so confirm the exact sections against the bare Act.
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
After the case reaches a court, you can create a FREE Claw account and track the matter across the court that hears it, by case number, with hearing dates and orders as they are uploaded. Claw covers 9,102 courts, benches and forums, so there is a real tracking home for your case, and judgment search spans 30 crore+ judgments with Supreme Court decisions from 1950 and High Court decisions from 1990. Results return in under 5 seconds, and Claw does not train its AI models on your documents. Tracking tells you where the case stands; it is not legal advice and does not replace your lawyer or the investigating officer.
07Sources and further reading
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in
- Sanchar Saathi (report a fraudulent number): sancharsaathi.gov.in
- Ministry of Electronics and IT (IT Act framework): meity.gov.in
- eCourts (criminal case status): ecourts.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This page is general information for India, not legal advice. For your own matter, consult a lawyer or the investigating officer.
08Frequently asked questions
Can I file a cybercrime complaint online?
Yes. Go to cybercrime.gov.in, choose the right category, register with your mobile number, fill the details, upload your evidence and submit. Save the acknowledgement number to track it.
Is a cybercrime complaint the same as an FIR?
Not automatically. A portal complaint is a report. It becomes a formal criminal case when the police register an FIR. If they refuse and a cognizable offence is disclosed, you can approach a senior officer or the Magistrate.
Can I file at any police station?
Yes. Under the zero-FIR rule any police station must record your complaint regardless of where the crime happened, and it is then transferred to the station with jurisdiction.
What should I keep ready?
Your mobile number, email and a government ID, the date, time and description of the incident, any suspect details such as a phone number or UPI ID, and evidence files like screenshots, chats and transaction receipts.
How do I track my complaint?
Log in to cybercrime.gov.in and use Check Status with your acknowledgement number. For financial fraud, call 1930. Once a court case begins, track it by its case number across the court that hears it.
What if the police do not act?
Go in person and insist on registration, approach a senior officer such as the SP or DCP, or file a complaint before the Magistrate under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 seeking a direction to investigate.