dpdpr.in
Am I covered?

Someone made a fake profile using my name or photos

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.

A profile uses your name or photos. The platform must act on your complaint within set times, and the person behind it may be committing a crime.

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 a grievance officer: acknowledge in 24 hours, resolve in 7 days (IT Rules, 2021, as amended in 2026).
  • Right to fast removal of intimate images: 2 hours.
  • Right to appeal to the Grievance Appellate Committee (gac.gov.in) within 30 days.
  • Right to police help. The police must take your complaint about threats, stalking or harassment. You can also report online at cybercrime.gov.in.
  • DPDP rights from 13 May 2027. You can ask what data the company holds and who it shared it with (section 11), ask for correction or erasure (section 12), and complain to the company, then to the Data Protection Board (sections 13 and 27). The company answers for its processors (section 8(1)).

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. Report the profile or post in the app.
    What to write: Choose Impersonation or the closest reason.
    What to attach: Your ID if asked (only through the app).
    What you get back: A report reference.
    How long to wait: 24 hours.
  3. Write to the grievance officer.
    What to write: The profile link and why it breaks the rules.
    What to attach: Screenshots.
    What you get back: Acknowledgement in 24 hours.
    How long to wait: 7 days.
  4. Appeal to the Grievance Appellate Committee on gac.gov.in.
    What to write: The platform's decision and why it is wrong.
    What to attach: Your complaint and the reply.
    What you get back: An appeal number.
    How long to wait: File within 30 days of the platform's reply.
  5. File a police complaint, or ask for an FIR.
    What to write: A signed complaint to the officer in charge of your local police station, or online at cybercrime.gov.in. Say what happened, when, the numbers used, and that someone is impersonating you or sharing your images.
    What to attach: Printouts of your screenshots and a copy on a pen drive. Your ID proof.
    What you get back: An FIR copy, or at least a written acknowledgement of your complaint. Online, you get an acknowledgement number.
    How long to wait: Do this at once if you feel unsafe. Do not wait for the company.
  6. Get a lawyer if the stakes are high.
    What to write: Nothing yet. Take your full file to the lawyer.
    What to attach: All of the above.
    What you get back: Advice on a legal notice, a claim before your State's IT Adjudicating Officer, or a civil suit for damages.
    How long to wait: Before you send any legal notice or file a suit. This page is not legal advice.

What people tried and what worked

  • People reported profiles to platforms and the police; court proceedings followed in one report.

Based on reports on public forums, and the news reports listed below. 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.

News reports

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. Search the platform for the profile and copy its link.

If it is genuine: hold the company accountable

Which rules this may break

  • IT Rules, 2021: grievance officer timelines and removal duties.
  • IT Act sections 66C (identity theft), 66D (impersonation) and 66E (private images).

What the company must do, and by when

  • Acknowledge in 24 hours, resolve in 7 days.
  • Remove impersonating or intimate content within the set times.

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, [Platform name]
Subject: Please confirm whether this person works for you

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am your customer. My account or profile link: [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 platform. They knew my [list the details they knew].

Please confirm in writing within 7 days:
1. Whether this person is your employee, agent, partner 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, [Platform name]
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, partner, 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.

Under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021, as amended, the platform's grievance officer must acknowledge your complaint within 24 hours and resolve it within 7 days; intimate images must be removed within 2 hours.

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

Please reply within 7 days. If I do not hear from you, I will escalate to the Grievance Appellate Committee and the police.

Name:
Registered mobile number:
Date:

Evidence to keep

  • Profile link and screenshots.
  • Messages it sent to others.

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. Warn friends not to send money.
  2. Report on cybercrime.gov.in.

Step by step guides:

Complain to the app or platform, then the Grievance Appellate Committee

Complain to the app or platform, then the Grievance Appellate Committee

Social media and other online platforms must publish the name and contact of a Grievance Officer. The IT Rules, 2021 (as amended on 10 February 2026) set short time limits.

Keep this ready before you start:

  • Links (URLs) to the post, profile or account.
  • Screenshots with date and time.
  • Your own account name, and the complaint number from the platform.
  1. Find the platform's Grievance Officer. The rules require the name, contact and complaint method to be shown on the website or app, usually under Help, Legal or Grievance.
  2. Send your complaint there. Attach links and screenshots.
  3. The Grievance Officer must acknowledge it within 24 hours and resolve it within 7 days.
  4. For a request to remove content such as impersonation, privacy invasion or harassment, the limit is 36 hours.
  5. For content that shows your private body parts, nudity, sexual acts, or impersonates you (including morphed images), the platform must act within 2 hours of your complaint.
  6. If you are not satisfied, or get no reply within 30 days, appeal to the Grievance Appellate Committee within 30 days.
  7. Open gac.gov.in. Click Appellant Login (File appeal / View status).
  8. Agree to the privacy policy, enter your mobile number and the captcha, then click Send OTP.
  9. Fill the appeal and upload the Grievance Officer's reply or your complaint proof.
  10. The GAC order is uploaded on the site. You get an SMS and email. The platform must publish a compliance report.
  11. The GAC does not handle money fraud or cybercrime. For those use 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, as amended up to 10 February 2026, Grievance Appellate Committee (IT Rules, 2021): 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.

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