Don't panic. Every minute matters after a cyber scam. Follow the steps below in order — they are designed to maximise your chance of recovery and stop further damage.
These are the most critical steps. Do them in order, as fast as possible. The first 30 minutes are the most important.
If money was transferred fraudulently, call 1930 immediately. This is India's dedicated financial cyber fraud helpline. They can contact your bank and attempt to freeze the transaction before the money moves further. Time is critical — the longer you wait, the harder recovery becomes.
Immediately call your bank's 24/7 helpline to freeze transactions. Most banks allow you to freeze your account via their app or by calling the back of your debit card number. Also block the UPI ID/phone number that received the payment on PhonePe, GPay, or Paytm.
Screenshot all messages, calls, emails, transaction IDs, payment receipts, website URLs, and social media profiles involved. These are your evidence. Save them to a safe location (email them to yourself). Do NOT delete any messages even if the scammer asks you to.
Visit cybercrime.gov.in, create a free account, and file a cyber complaint. Select the appropriate category (financial fraud, social media fraud, etc.), upload your screenshots, and note the complaint number. This creates an official record and may trigger police investigation.
If any login credentials were shared or if you suspect your accounts were accessed, change passwords immediately. Enable 2FA. If your email was compromised, treat ALL accounts that use that email as compromised and change those passwords too.
For financial fraud above ₹1,000, visit your nearest police station and file a cyber crime FIR. Bring all screenshots and transaction details. You can also file online through your state's police portal. Having an FIR strengthens your case for any bank dispute resolution.
Scams can cause significant emotional distress, shame, and anxiety. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or counsellor. Remember: being scammed is not your fault — these are sophisticated, professional criminals who target thousands of people. Many have been there before you.
Save these numbers in your phone now, so you have them when you need them most.
Different scams require slightly different responses. Find your situation below for targeted steps.
Call 1930 immediately. Report to your bank. File at cybercrime.gov.in with transaction ID. Note: UPI transactions below ₹1 lakh processed within the last few hours have the highest chance of reversal.
Immediately change passwords on the affected account and all others using the same password. Enable 2FA everywhere. If social media was hacked, report to the platform and alert your contacts not to respond to any messages from the compromised account.
Do not pay. Payment escalates demands. Report to cybercrime.gov.in (there's a Women & Children section for sensitive cases). Call 1930. Block the scammer on all platforms. Contact iCall (9152987821) for emotional support. You are not alone — this is extremely common.
Answers to the questions most students ask after falling victim to an online scam.
Official Government of India portal to file cyber crime complaints online.
File Complaint →Report unauthorised deposit schemes and financial fraud to the RBI directly.
Visit →Read our safety guides to prevent this from happening again. Start with the 2FA guide.
Read Guides →Learn exactly how your scam worked so you can protect others and never fall for it again.
Scam Library →