Plain-language help for ordinary people. General information, not legal advice. Helplines, portals and screen names were checked against official Government and regulator pages on 1 November 2026. Portals change: if a screen looks different, follow the words on the screen and the official guide linked in each step.
Ask one question first: did someone cheat, threaten or impersonate you? If yes, it is a crime. Go to 1930, cybercrime.gov.in or the police at once. Privacy complaints can follow later.
| What happened | Where to go |
|---|---|
| You lost money, or someone has your OTP or card details | Crime: 1930 now, then cybercrime.gov.in, and your bank |
| Someone threatens, blackmails, stalks or shares intimate images | Crime: police or cybercrime.gov.in; ask the platform to remove (2 hours for intimate images) |
| A fake profile uses your name | Both: platform first, then cybercrime.gov.in if used to cheat |
| A SIM or loan was opened with your documents | Both: Sanchar Saathi or the lender, plus a cybercrime or police complaint |
| A call or SMS tried to cheat you but you lost nothing | Report: Chakshu on Sanchar Saathi |
| Unwanted marketing | Privacy: 1909 or Chakshu within 7 days |
| A company shares or sells your data, or ignores your request | Privacy: the company, then the sector regulator; from 13 May 2027 the Data Protection Board |
| A company leaked your data in a breach | Privacy: ask the company, report to CERT-In; if fraud follows, it is also a crime |
| Poor service or wrong bill | Consumer: the company, then the National Consumer Helpline |
Identity theft and cheating by impersonation using a computer or phone are offences under sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.