If you have been defrauded through an Indian bank account or UPI, report it immediately on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or through the 1930 helpline, which a relative in India can call for you. The report goes to the banks involved so they can put a hold on the receiving accounts. Then file a written complaint or FIR with full transaction details. Frozen money is released to the victim through the police and the Magistrate, which is where a lawyer in India helps most.
- Portal
- cybercrime.gov.in
- Helpline
- 1930, from an Indian phone
- Main offences
- BNS 318, 319; IT Act 66C, 66D
- Release of money
- Order of the Magistrate
What to do in the first 24 hours
- Stop paying. Fraudsters often demand a further "tax", "release fee" or "penalty" to unlock your money. No genuine investment, customs or police process works this way.
- Report on the national portal. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal accepts complaints of financial fraud. Registration usually needs an OTP on an Indian mobile number, so if you do not have one, a relative in India or our team can file for you with your details.
- Call 1930. The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting system behind the 1930 helpline alerts the banks and payment platforms that received the money. The number works from Indian phones, so ask someone in India to call with the transaction IDs.
- Tell your own bank. If money left an Indian account, notify your bank in writing at once. Under the RBI's 2017 directions on unauthorised electronic transactions, a customer who reports a third-party breach within three working days has zero liability. That protection does not cover payments you authorised yourself because you were deceived, which is why speed in reporting the receiving accounts matters.
- Preserve evidence. Screenshots of chats, profile pages, websites, app names, UPI IDs, bank account numbers and transaction references, with dates.
If you are abroad and the fraud was carried out through an overseas account, report it to the police or fraud agency in your country too. A report in both countries helps when the money moved through India.
The frauds we see most often
| Type | How it works | Key evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Investment and trading apps | Fake platforms show profits, then demand fees before withdrawal | App name, website, payment trail, chat groups |
| Matrimonial and romance | A profile builds trust, then asks for money for an emergency, customs duty or travel | Profile, chats, photos, transfers |
| Impersonation of officials | Callers posing as police, customs or a regulator threaten arrest and demand payment, sometimes called "digital arrest" | Call records, video call screenshots, accounts paid |
| Property and rent | Fake listings, fake owners or forged documents to take advance money | Listing, documents shared, payment proof |
| Account takeover | SIM swap, phishing or remote access apps used to drain an Indian account | Bank statement, SMS alerts, device details |
No Indian police officer or agency places anyone under arrest over a video call or asks for money to avoid arrest. If someone claims there is a case against you in India and you are worried, ask us to check the court and police records before you respond.
Which laws apply
Since 1 July 2024, offences are registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and investigated under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Online fraud is usually charged as cheating under section 318 BNS (formerly section 420 IPC) and cheating by personation under section 319 BNS (formerly section 419 IPC), with sections 66C (identity theft) and 66D (cheating by personation using a computer resource) of the Information Technology Act 2000. Threats to release private images for money are extortion under section 308 BNS (formerly section 384 IPC).
Under section 173 BNSS, information about a cognisable offence can be given electronically and an FIR can be registered at any police station regardless of where the offence happened, which helps when the victim is abroad and the accused are spread across states.
Freezing and getting the money back
When a complaint reaches the banks quickly, the amount still sitting in the receiving account can be put on hold. Police can also direct banks to freeze accounts linked to the offence as part of the investigation. Freezing is only the first half. To get the money back, the victim usually applies to the jurisdictional Magistrate for release of the frozen amount, supported by proof of the transfer and identity, under the BNSS provisions on custody and release of seized property (formerly sections 451 and 457 CrPC). Some banks reverse amounts with police consent, but in practice a court order is the reliable route.
We are honest with clients about recovery: money that has already been withdrawn in cash or sent through several layers of accounts, or into cryptocurrency, is hard to trace. The earlier the report, the better the chance. Where the fraud was by a known person, a civil claim for recovery of money can run alongside the criminal case.
Pursuing the case without travelling
Cyber cases stall when nobody follows up with the investigating officer. We act on a power of attorney or authority letter you sign abroad, file the written complaint with an index of evidence, meet the cyber cell or police station, file the release application before the Magistrate and track the bank responses. Your statement can usually be given in writing or by video, and where the police insist on a sworn statement we arrange for it to be notarised and apostilled where you live.
If the fraud involves a property deal or documents forged in your name, the dispute often continues after the criminal case; see our page on property disputes.
Protecting yourself from the next attempt
Victims of one fraud are often targeted again by "recovery agents" who promise to get the money back for a fee. Do not pay anyone who contacts you unsolicited claiming to be from a recovery agency, a law firm or the police. Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication on email and banking, check whether your Indian mobile number is still under your control, and keep OTP-linked numbers active even while you live abroad. For investments in India, deal only with entities registered with SEBI or the RBI, and verify the registration on the regulator's own website.
Documents you need
Collect these before you call us. Screenshots are fine at first; we will tell you what needs certification.
- Bank statements showing each transfer, with UTR or UPI reference
- Screenshots of chats, profiles, websites or apps used
- Phone numbers, email IDs and account details of the fraudsters
- Acknowledgment number of any portal or 1930 complaint
- Your passport and overseas address proof
- Authority letter or power of attorney for the person acting in India
- Any report made to police or a fraud agency abroad
How we handle it for you
Report at once
We help file on the portal and through 1930, with every transaction reference.
Written complaint or FIR
A detailed complaint with an evidence index, filed with the cyber cell or police station.
Follow the money
We press the police to obtain bank responses and freeze the receiving accounts.
Apply for release
Application before the Magistrate for release of frozen amounts to you.
Civil remedies
Where the fraudster is known, a recovery suit or property action alongside the criminal case.
Why clients choose ProudLegal
Built for clients abroadVideo calls in your time zone and documents signed where you live.
Advocates who appear in Indian courtsYour case is drafted and argued by enrolled advocates in India.
Written fee quote firstScope and fees confirmed in writing before any work starts.
Updates after every stepScans of every filing and order on WhatsApp and email.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file a cyber fraud complaint in India from abroad?
Yes. The national portal accepts complaints online, though registration usually needs an Indian mobile number. A relative or lawyer in India can file for you, and a detailed written complaint can be sent to the police with your signed authority.
Can I call 1930 from outside India?
The helpline is designed for Indian phone numbers. Ask a relative or our team in India to call with the transaction details, or use the portal.
How do I get frozen money released?
After the account is frozen, an application is made to the Magistrate with proof of the transaction and your identity. The court orders the bank to release the amount, sometimes on an undertaking.
How much money is usually recovered?
It depends entirely on how much remained in the receiving accounts when the freeze took effect. We cannot promise recovery, and anyone who does should be treated with caution.
Is a digital arrest real?
No. Indian law has no procedure for arresting someone by video call or demanding payment to avoid arrest. Such calls are fraud.
Will the police register an FIR if I am abroad?
They should, where the complaint discloses a cognisable offence. Section 173 BNSS allows electronic information and an FIR at any police station, with transfer to the right one.
Can I recover money paid to a fake matrimonial profile?
Yes, through the same route: report, freeze and release. If the person is identified, a civil claim and criminal prosecution can follow.
What does your help cost?
We quote a fixed fee for the complaint and follow-up, and a separate fee for court applications, in writing before we start.