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Am I covered?

A video call says I am under 'digital arrest' by police, CBI or customs

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.

Someone on a video call, often in uniform with an official looking background, says you are linked to a crime and under 'digital arrest'. They tell you to stay on camera and transfer money to 'verify' it. There is no such thing as a digital arrest. A genuine police matter comes as a written notice, and you can check it at the police station.

Safety first. Threatened or in danger: call 181 (women) or go to the nearest police station. Lost money: call 1930 at once.

Your rights

  • Right to verify. You can call or visit the police station named, using a number you find yourself, and ask whether the officer and case are real.
  • Right to written process. A real police matter comes as a written notice, not a video call asking for money.
  • Right to police help. The police must take your complaint about threats, stalking or harassment. You can also report online at cybercrime.gov.in.

How to fight it, step by step

One action per step. Each step says what to write, what to attach, what you get back, and how long to wait before the next step. If the person turns out to be fake, skip to If it is fake.

  1. Save the evidence before you block or delete anything.
    What to write: A short note with the date, time, number used, and exactly what was said or what details they knew.
    What to attach: Screenshots of the call log, SMS, WhatsApp chats (with the number visible), and any payment screen.
    What you get back: A record that cannot later be denied.
    How long to wait: Do this the same day.
  2. End the call. Call 1930 if you paid or shared anything.
    What to write: Transaction details.
    What to attach: Payment screenshots.
    What you get back: An acknowledgement number.
    How long to wait: Do this at once.
  3. Report on cybercrime.gov.in.
    What to write: What happened, the numbers and IDs used.
    What to attach: Screenshots, recordings.
    What you get back: An acknowledgement number.
    How long to wait: The same day if money was lost.
  4. Report the number on Chakshu (Sanchar Saathi).
    What to write: Choose the closest category.
    What to attach: Screenshot.
    What you get back: A reference.
    How long to wait: No wait.
  5. Visit your local police station with a written complaint.
    What to write: Impersonation of police.
    What to attach: Everything above.
    What you get back: An FIR or written acknowledgement.
    How long to wait: The same week.

What people tried and what worked

  • The reports we read did not say what worked. The steps below are the official route.

Based on reports on public forums. Paraphrased, with no usernames or personal details. What worked for one person may not work for you; the numbered steps above are the official route.

Not legal advice. This page explains the rules in plain words so you can act. Consult a lawyer before you sue anyone or send a legal notice. Laws and portals change; check the linked official source.

Step 1: stay safe and find out who it is

  1. End the call.
  2. Do not pay anything.
  3. Find the police station's number yourself and ask whether any case exists in your name.
  4. A real notice is written and can be checked at the station.

If it is genuine: hold the company accountable

Which rules this may break

  • No law allows a 'digital arrest' or payment to an officer on a call. Government advisories warn about this fraud.

What the company must do, and by when

  • Tell you whether a notice is genuine.
  • Accept your complaint about impersonation.

Letter 1: ask them to confirm who the caller is

Send it through the official channel. Keep a copy and the acknowledgement.

To: The Grievance Officer, The Station House Officer, [Police station]
Subject: Please confirm whether this person works for you

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am your customer. My name and address: [number].

On [date] at [time] I received a call or message from [phone number]. This is not an official number. The person said they were [name], [role or employee ID], from the police station. They knew my [list the details they knew].

Please confirm in writing within 7 days:
1. Whether this person is your employee, agent, officer or partner.
2. If yes, their name, role and the agency they work for.
3. Whether you allow staff or agents to contact customers from personal numbers.
4. If they are not connected with you, please say so, so I can report the number.

Name:
Registered mobile number:
Date:

Letter 2: ask how your data got there

To: The Grievance Officer, The Station House Officer, [Police station]
Subject: How did my personal data reach a personal phone? Complaint number [if any]

Dear Sir or Madam,

On [date] a person connected with you, [name if known], contacted me from a personal number [number] and knew my [details]. [Describe what they did.]

Please tell me in writing:
1. What personal data about me this person could see, and through which system or app.
2. Whether you shared my data with any agency, officer, partner or processor, and their names.
3. How my data reached a personal phone or account outside your official systems.
4. What action you have taken against the person or agency, including suspension while you investigate.
5. What you have done to stop this happening again.

Many companies already name a grievance officer for data matters under the IT Act's 2011 SPDI Rules.

From 13 May 2027, sections 8 and 11 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 also apply.

Please reply within 30 days. If I do not hear from you, I will escalate to the National Consumer Helpline and, from 13 May 2027, the Data Protection Board.

Name:
Registered mobile number:
Date:

Evidence to keep

  • Screenshots of the video call, any ID card shown, numbers and app IDs.
  • Payment details if you paid.

More in the evidence checklist.

Can you sue? What realistically happens

  • Consumer Commission: the most practical route for compensation. Cheap, no lawyer needed, file within 2 years.
  • IT Act section 43A (until 13 May 2027): if the company was negligent with sensitive personal data (passwords, bank or card details, health records, biometrics) and that caused wrongful loss or gain, it must pay compensation. Claims up to Rs 5 crore go to your State's IT Secretary acting as Adjudicating Officer (section 46); larger claims go to a court. Appeal within 45 days (section 57). Your phone number and address alone are not sensitive data under the 2011 Rules.
  • Civil suit for damages: possible, but slow and costly. Section 61 of the IT Act bars civil courts from matters the Adjudicating Officer can decide.
  • Police: only where there is a crime, for example a person who disclosed your information in breach of a contract to cause wrongful loss or gain (IT Act section 72A, up to 3 years), identity theft (66C), cheating by impersonation (66D), stalking or threats.
  • Realistic outcome: most people get results from a firm written complaint and the regulator or ombudsman. Courts take years. Consult a lawyer before suing.

From 13 May 2027: the Data Protection Board

From 13 May 2027 the DPDP Act's duties apply. The company is responsible for processing done by it or by anyone processing on its behalf (section 8(1)), may use a processor only under a valid contract (section 8(2)), must protect your data with reasonable security safeguards (section 8(5)), and must tell you and the Board about a breach (section 8(6)). It may use your data only for the lawful purpose you agreed to (sections 4 to 6). Section 44(2) removes IT Act section 43A from that date. Complain to the company first; if it does not resolve it, complain to the Data Protection Board. The Board can impose penalties up to Rs 250 crore, but penalties go to the Government (the Consolidated Fund of India, section 34), not to you. For money, use the ombudsman or the Consumer Commission. Appeals from the Board go to TDSAT within 60 days (section 29).

If it is fake: urgent steps

  1. Call 1930 at once if you paid.
  2. Report on cybercrime.gov.in.
  3. Report the numbers on Chakshu.

Step by step guides:

Report money lost to fraud: call 1930

Report money lost to fraud: call 1930

1930 is the national cyber crime helpline run with the Ministry of Home Affairs. It links your report to banks and wallets so they can try to stop the money. Call as fast as you can. The sooner the report reaches the bank, the better the chance.

Keep this ready before you start:

  • Your mobile number.
  • Name of the bank, wallet or app the money left from.
  • Account number, wallet ID or UPI ID that was debited.
  • Transaction ID or 12 digit UTR number for each payment.
  • Date and amount of each payment.
  • Card number, if a debit or credit card was used.
  • Screenshots of the payment and of the chat or SMS.
  1. Dial 1930 from any phone.
  2. Tell them you want to report a financial cyber fraud.
  3. Give each transaction one by one: bank, transaction ID or UTR, date and amount.
  4. Write down the acknowledgement number they give you. It also comes by SMS.
  5. Save that SMS. Take a screenshot of it.
  6. Now file the full complaint on cybercrime.gov.in (steps below). The official cybercrime.gov.in instructions ask you to complete it within 24 hours of the call.
  7. Call your bank's official customer care number too, and ask them to block the card, UPI or account. Use the number on your card or passbook.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: I4C (Ministry of Home Affairs): National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and 1930, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: FAQ.

File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in

File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in

The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal takes complaints about online fraud, hacking, fake profiles, harassment and more. Your complaint goes to the police of your State or Union Territory. The screen names below come from the portal's FAQ and the Ministry of Home Affairs citizen manual. The portal can change. If a screen looks different, follow the words on the screen.

Keep this ready before you start:

  • Date and time of the incident.
  • Incident details in your own words. The portal checklist asks for at least 200 characters and no special characters such as # $ @ ^ * ` ~ | !
  • A photo or scan of a national ID (Voter ID, Driving Licence, Passport, PAN or Aadhaar) in .jpg, .jpeg or .png, not more than 5 MB.
  • For money fraud: bank or wallet name, 12 digit transaction ID or UTR, date and amount.
  • Evidence files such as screenshots, not more than 10 MB each.
  • If known: the other person's mobile number, email, bank account, website link or social media handle.
  1. Open cybercrime.gov.in in a browser.
  2. Click File a complaint.
  3. Read the message. Tick I Accept.
  4. Click Report Other Cyber Crime. (For sexual content involving women or children, use the women and child section instead.)
  5. Type your name in User Name. Type your mobile number.
  6. Click Get OTP. Type the OTP you receive. It is valid for 30 minutes.
  7. Fill the security answer. Click Submit.
  8. In Incident details, choose the Category of complaint. For money loss choose Online Financial Fraud. For fake profiles or harassment choose Online and Social Media Related Crime.
  9. Choose the Sub-Category that fits best.
  10. Enter the approximate date and time. If you are late, fill Reason for delay in reporting.
  11. Choose Where did the incident occur? (for example a phone call, SMS, WhatsApp, a website or an app).
  12. Upload your evidence files.
  13. Write what happened in the details box. Say who contacted you, from which number, what they said, what you shared or paid, and when.
  14. Click Save and Next.
  15. Add suspect details if you have them: name, mobile number, bank account, UPI ID or website. Click Save & Next.
  16. Fill your own details and address. Choose your State, District and Police Station.
  17. Upload your ID proof. Click Save & Preview.
  18. Check everything. Tick I Agree. Click Confirm & Submit.
  19. Write down the Complaint ID shown on screen. You also get it by SMS and email. It is a complaint number, not an FIR number.
  20. Click Download PDF and save the file in a safe folder.
  21. To check progress later, log in the same way and click Check Status.
  22. If you get no action, or are not happy with what the police did, contact the cyber crime grievance officer of your State or Union Territory listed on the portal. You can also visit your local police station with the PDF and ask for an FIR.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: FAQ, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: checklist before filing, I4C (Ministry of Home Affairs): National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and 1930.

Report a fraud call, SMS or WhatsApp on Chakshu (Sanchar Saathi)

Report a fraud call, SMS or WhatsApp on Chakshu (Sanchar Saathi)

Chakshu is run by the Department of Telecommunications. Use it for calls or messages that try to cheat you, such as fake KYC, fake police, fake customer care, job or loan offers and sextortion. It is for numbers that tried to cheat you. If you already lost money, call 1930 first.

Keep this ready before you start:

  • A screenshot of the call log or message. The form asks for one.
  • The number or SMS header that contacted you.
  • Date and time (within the last 30 days).
  • Any phone numbers or links mentioned in the message.
  • Your own mobile number, to get an OTP.
  1. Open sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc, or open the Sanchar Saathi app (Google Play or App Store).
  2. On the website, under Citizen Centric Services, choose Chakshu - Report Suspected Fraud Communication.
  3. Under Report Suspected Fraud, click Proceed.
  4. Choose how it came: call, SMS or WhatsApp.
  5. Choose the category. The list includes: KYC and Payment related to Bank / Electricity / Gas / Insurance; Impersonation as Police, CBI, Customs, Aadhaar, RBI; Fake Customer Care Helpline; Online job / lottery / gifts / loan offers; Sextortion; IVR / Robo Calls; Malicious link / website; Investment, Stock Market and Trading; Impersonation as DoT / TRAI; Impersonation as a relative / friend; Any Other Suspected Fraud.
  6. Attach the screenshot. The portal may fill some details from the image. Check them.
  7. Type the number it came from. For an SMS with a name instead of a number, choose With header and type the header.
  8. Enter the date and the time in HH:MM AM/PM format.
  9. In complaint details, write at least 30 characters. Say what they asked for and what they claimed.
  10. Add any phone numbers and links that were in the message.
  11. Enter the mobile number on which you got the call or message.
  12. Type the captcha. Click Verify Mobile via OTP. Enter the OTP. Click Verify OTP.
  13. Tick the declaration. Click Preview. Check it. Click Submit.
  14. Take a screenshot of the thank you message. The Department says it will not send you individual results, for privacy reasons.
  15. If it came on WhatsApp, also report the chat inside WhatsApp. The portal asks you to do this.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: Chakshu: report suspected fraud or spam (Sanchar Saathi), Sanchar Saathi portal and FAQ (Department of Telecommunications).

Related guides

See also when a platform shares your data with a third party and the escalation ladder.

Official sources

Checked on 1 November 2026. Company pages are labelled as the company's own words.

On this page
  1. Your rights
  2. How to fight it
  3. What people tried
  4. Step 1: verify
  5. If genuine
  6. Letters
  7. Can you sue?
  8. Data Protection Board
  9. If fake
  10. Sources