Why minutes matter: once you report a fraudulent transaction, the bank can try to freeze it before the money is moved out of the receiving account. The earlier the report reaches the system, the higher the chance the amount is held. Do not wait to "see if it sorts itself out" — report first, work out the details later.
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Suspected fraud? What to do in the first 10 minutes
Do these, in order
1
Call 1930 now
1930 is India's national cyber-crime helpline for financial fraud — toll-free, 24×7. Call it immediately to start the process that can freeze the fraudulent transfer.
2
Tell your bank / wallet
Call your bank or wallet on the number from your card or passbook. Ask them to freeze the account, block the card, and stop the beneficiary. Do not use any number the fraudster gave you.
3
Report at cybercrime.gov.in
File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, cybercrime.gov.in. Calling 1930 and filing online work together.
4
Preserve the evidence
Do not delete anything. Screenshot the messages, emails, caller numbers, UPI IDs, links and payment confirmations — you will need them for the complaint.
5
Send nothing more
Do not pay any further amount and do not follow any more instructions from whoever contacted you — however urgent, official or reassuring they sound.
Have these ready when you report
The complaint (on the phone and on the portal) goes faster if you have these to hand:
- The name of the bank, wallet or merchant involved.
- The 12-digit transaction ID or UTR number of the payment.
- The date of the transaction.
- The amount.
- Any caller number, UPI ID, email address or link the fraudster used.
Official routes: national cyber-fraud helpline 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal cybercrime.gov.in, operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs. Verified July 2026 — helpline numbers can change; if in doubt, confirm on cybercrime.gov.in.
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