Cyber Crime Helpline Number India: Call 1930 to Report Online Fraud

Got scammed online? Call 1930 immediately. Seriously, do not wait even five minutes. This is India’s official cyber crime helpline and the moment you call, there is a real chance the authorities can freeze the transaction before that money is completely gone.

Every second matters here. Scammers move fast and once the money leaves your account, getting it back becomes extremely difficult. One phone call can make all the difference.

In this guide you will find out exactly how to call 1930, what to say, what documents to keep ready, and what happens after your complaint goes in. No confusing terms, no wasted time. Just the stuff that actually helps you get your money back.

What Is the Cyber Crime Helpline Number in India?

1930 is India’s national cyber crime helpline number, and it exists for one simple reason. When someone scams you online, you need to report it fast and you need to reach the right people. This is that number.

The Ministry of Home Affairs set it up through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and it stays open all day, all night, every single day of the year. Whether someone tricked you through a fake UPI request, a job offer that turned out to be fraud, or straight up stole money from your bank account, this is the number you call.

Before 2021 things were honestly quite confusing. Each state had its own cyber crime number. So if you got scammed you had to first figure out which number belongs to your state, then hope it actually worked. Most people just gave up. The government saw this problem and replaced all those different numbers with one single helpline for the entire country. Simple, clean, no confusion.

One small thing before we move forward. Save 1930 in your phone right now. Seriously, just do it. Because when you actually need this number you will be stressed and panicking and the last thing you want to do is search for it online.

When Should You Call 1930?

Call 1930 if any of these have happened to you:

• Money was transferred from your bank account or UPI without your permission
• You paid someone online and got cheated (fake product, fake job, fake investment)
• You received a fake call from someone pretending to be a bank, police officer, or government official
• Your OTP was stolen and your account was accessed
• You clicked a suspicious link and your money was debited
• You fell for a digital arrest scam or a parcel fraud call

The golden window is the first 30 to 60 minutes after a fraud. If you call within this time, the cyber crime team can alert the receiving bank and put a hold on the money before the scammer withdraws it.

What Happens When You Call 1930?

Here is what happens once you dial 1930:

Step 1: You call 1930 Someone picks up and asks you three basic things. Your name, your mobile number, and what happened. Do not panic, do not ramble. Just tell them clearly that you got scammed, how much money was taken, and through which app or platform.

Step 2: They log your complaint They put your details into the system and hand you a reference number. Please write this down on paper, not just a mental note. This little number is the only proof that your complaint exists and you will need it more than once going forward.

Step 3: They alert the bank This is where things move quickly. The operator gets in touch with the bank or the payment app where your money landed, PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, wherever it went. They flag the transaction right there on the call.

Step 4: Bank puts a hold If the scammer has not already moved the money out, the bank can freeze their account immediately. This is honestly the most important step in the entire process and the only reason it works is because you called fast enough.

Step 5: You file an online complaint The call gets the ball rolling but it does not close the case. After hanging up you need to go to cybercrime.gov.in and submit a full written complaint using that reference number. The phone call stops the bleeding. The online complaint is what actually builds your case.

What to Keep Ready Before You Call

Do not panic and call empty-handed. Have these things ready:

• Your bank account number or UPI ID The one from which the money was sent. This is the first thing they will ask you.
• The fraudster’s details Whatever you have. Their UPI ID, bank account number, or phone number. Even one of these is enough to get things moving.
• Transaction ID or UTR number Open your banking app or payment app and find the transaction. That reference number is proof the payment actually happened.
• The exact amount and time Do not guess. Check your app and note down the exact figure and the timestamp of the transaction.
• Screenshots Any messages, fake links, suspicious calls, or chats related to the fraud. Take screenshots of everything before you call.
• Your Aadhaar or PAN number Just for identity verification. They need to confirm who is filing the complaint.

Now here is the thing. If you do not have all of this right now, do not let that stop you from calling. The operator will guide you through whatever you are missing. Having everything ready just speeds things up and increases your chances of freezing the transaction in time. Call first, gather more details later if needed information ready will make the process much faster.

How to File an Online Complaint on cybercrime.gov.in

Calling 1930 is your first step. But you also need to file a written complaint online. Here is how:

1. Go to cybercrime.gov.in
2. Click on “File a Complaint”
3. Select “Financial Fraud” as the category
4. Fill in your personal details and the complaint details
5. Upload screenshots and any evidence you have
6. Submit and save your complaint number

You can also track your complaint status on the same website using your registered mobile number.

If you are unsure whether a message or payment screenshot is fake, use ScamDekho’s Scam Message Checker or Fake Payment Screenshot Checker before you call.

State-Wise Cyber Crime Helpline Numbers (Backup Options)

While 1930 works across India, some states also have their own cyber cells. These can be useful if your local case needs follow-up:

All numbers are sourced from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in). For the latest updates, visit cybercrime.gov.in directly.

#	State / UT	Grievance Phone Number	How to Report
1	National (All India)	1930	Call 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in
2	Andaman & Nicobar	03192-232334	Contact DIGP (Intl.)
3	Andhra Pradesh	8331043255	SP Cyber Crimes, CID
4	Arunachal Pradesh	9436040703	IGP Crime
5	Assam	0361-2521618	IGP CID
6	Bihar	0612-2238098	SSP Cyber Cell
7	Chandigarh	0172-2700056	IGP-UT
8	Chhattisgarh	0771-2511989	DIG Technical Services
9	Dadra & Nagar Haveli / Daman & Diu	0260-2220140	DIGP
10	Delhi	011-20892633	JT. CP, IFSO Special Cell
11	Goa	0832-2420883	DIGP
12	Gujarat	079-23250798	IGP, CID
13	Haryana	0172-2524058	DIG SCB
14	Himachal Pradesh	0177-2620331	DIGP/Crime
15	Jammu & Kashmir	0191-2582292	ADGP CID
16	Jharkhand	0651-2220060	SP Cyber Crime, CID
17	Karnataka	080-22942475	DIG Cyber Crimes, CID
18	Kerala	0471-2300042	ADGP Cyber Operations
19	Ladakh	9541902324	AIG CIV PHQ
20	Lakshadweep	04896-262258	SP L&O
21	Madhya Pradesh	0755-2770248	ADG State Cyber Police
22	Maharashtra	022-22160080	SP, Cyber Crime Branch
23	Manipur	0385-2444888	DIGP (Intl.)
24	Meghalaya	9402519391	SP Cyber, PHQ
25	Mizoram	0389-2334682	DGP
26	Nagaland	6009308003	ADGP L&O
27	Odisha	0674-2913100	ADGP CID CB
28	Puducherry	0413-2231313	IGP
29	Punjab	0172-2226258	ADGP Cyber Crime
30	Rajasthan	0141-2821741	Inspector General of Police
31	Sikkim	8695622134	Police Inspector CID
32	Tamil Nadu	044-29580300	SP, Cyber Crimes Division
33	Telangana	040-27852000	Director, TSCSB
34	Tripura	0381-2415501	ADGP/IGP Crime
35	Uttar Pradesh	0522-2304954	ADGP Cyber Crime
36	Uttarakhand	0135-2655900	IGP/DIG Crime
37	West Bengal	033-22143000	ADGP CID

For national financial fraud, always start with 1930 first. The state numbers are for cases that need local police follow-up.

Real Case: How 1930 Saved Someone’s Money

Here is a real example shared by a Mumbai resident on a consumer forum:

It started with a phone call. Someone claiming to be from TRAI told this person that their number was about to be blocked because it was linked to illegal activity. That one line was enough to make them freeze.

Before they could even process what was happening, they were transferred to a WhatsApp video call. On the other end was a man in uniform, introducing himself as a CBI officer. He was aggressive, authoritative, and gave them no room to think. Pay Rs 2.8 lakh right now or face arrest. So they paid.

The moment the money left their account, something felt wrong. They started putting the pieces together and realised they had just been played. No TRAI. No CBI. Just scammers who knew exactly how to make a person panic and act without thinking.

What they did next is the reason this story does not end terribly. They called 1930 within 40 minutes. The team flagged the receiving account and managed to freeze it before everything was gone. Three weeks later Rs 1.9 lakh came back to them out of the Rs 2.8 lakh they had lost.

Not a full recovery. But nearly 70 percent returned because they picked up the phone and called in time.

Common Mistakes People Make After Getting Scammed

Most people do not lose their money because of the scam alone. They lose it because of what they do in the hour after it happens.

• Waiting too long to call People sit with it. They feel embarrassed, they second guess themselves, they hope maybe the payment will reverse on its own. It will not. And while you are sitting there the fraudster is at an ATM. Once that cash is out, no helpline in the world can bring it back.
• Not saving the transaction details You are going to be flustered when you call. That is completely normal. But before you dial, open your payment app and screenshot that transaction. The UTR number on it is the one thing that tells the operator exactly which payment to freeze. Without it the complaint still gets filed but it moves much slower.
• Calling the wrong number Fake helpline numbers travel fast on WhatsApp. Some of them are run by the exact same people who scammed you, waiting for a second bite. 1930 is the only number that is real. Any other number you see floating around on social media or forwarded messages, ignore it completely unless you have confirmed it on cybercrime.gov.in yourself.
• Forgetting what actually happened Panic does strange things to memory. Before you call, take sixty seconds and write down the basics. How much, which app, what time, what the person said to you. You do not need to have everything figured out but a clear two minute explanation on the call makes a real difference.
• Trusting someone who calls you back to help This happens more than you think. A scammer calls you pretending to be a cyber crime official, says they saw your case, and offers to help recover your money. Then they ask for an OTP or tell you to download an app. That is the second scam. Genuine 1930 operators do not call you back out of nowhere and they will never ask for your OTP or any kind of remote access Ever

Is 1930 Available 24 Hours?

Yes. The 1930 helpline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and public holidays. You can call at any time.

However, response time may vary. If the line is busy, keep trying. Do not wait and give up.

What If Your Money Is Not Recovered?

This is the hard truth. Not every case leads to a recovery. But here is what else you can do:

• File an FIR at your nearest police station A phone call to 1930 starts the process but an FIR makes it official. It creates a legal record of what happened and without it you cannot move forward with insurance claims or bank disputes. It feels like a lot of effort when you are already exhausted but it is worth doing.
• Contact RBI’s SACHET portal If the fraud involved a bank or any kind of financial company regulated by RBI, head to sachet.rbi.org.in and file a complaint there. It is a separate channel and it applies pressure from a different direction.
• Call the National Consumer Helpline at 1915 Got scammed through an e-commerce website or an online shopping platform? This is the number for that. It does not replace 1930 but it is the right place to escalate if a platform was involved.
• Go back to your bank and ask for a chargeback If the payment went through a credit or debit card, your bank is legally required to investigate it. Walk in, raise a chargeback request, and follow up. They have 90 days to look into it and a surprising number of these do get resolved in the customer’s favour.

Also check our guide on how to recover money lost in an online scam for a full step-by-step breakdown.

How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Fraud in the Future

Reporting is important. Prevention is better. A few habits that actually help:

• Never share OTP, PIN, or Aadhaar details on a call, even if the caller sounds official
• Always verify a UPI QR code before paying. Use ScamDekho’s UPI QR Checker when in doubt
• Do not click links sent via WhatsApp, SMS, or email from unknown contacts
• If you receive a job offer, verify the offer letter before paying any fees. Use our Fake Offer Letter Checker
• Turn on transaction alerts for your bank account so you know immediately if something unexpected happens

Summary: What You Need to Know

• The cyber crime helpline number in India is 1930
• Call immediately after any online fraud, the first hour is critical
• Keep your transaction ID, bank details, and screenshots ready before calling
• After calling, file a written complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
• Real operators will never ask for your OTP or ask you to install apps
• Recovery is possible, especially if you act fast

Frequently Asked Questions