Did you know that at least one cybercrime is reported every 10 minutes in India?

Have you been a victim of cybercrime advanced fee scams, fake part-time jobs, cryptocurrency trading scams and OTP scams and you want a court order to get back the money from fraudsters’ frozen bank accounts? You’ll need to approach an expert cybercrime lawyer to file an application in the competent courts to get a favourable court order so that the Bank can release your money.

The Identity Theft Research Center (ITRC) reports a record number of data compromises in the U.S. in 2021, amounting to a 68 per cent increase over 2020.

Cybercrime is a serious menace which is on the rise ever since mass technology adoption. The initiative of ‘Digital India’ has compelled many companies to go online.

And to tackle this growing menace of cyber crimes in India, Criminal Investigation Departments (CIDs) have been instituted along with specialised Cyber Crime Cells in major metropolitan cities.

What is Digital India Initiative?

It works extensively for “digital infrastructure creation”, “digital delivery of services”, and “digital literacy”.

What exactly is a cyber crime?

Cybercrime is a crime committed using technology that either targets or uses a network connected electronic devices such as computers, laptops, smartphones, IoT devices and digital kiosks.

What are the activities prohibited by the cyber laws in India?

Cyber laws in India provide various activities deemed as illegal such as phishing attack, OTP frauds, advance loan scams, sextortion, revenge porn, credit card frauds, identity theft, hacking, cyber stalking, internet phishing, one-time password (OTP), and social media fraud, cyber bullying, cyber terrorism, cyber vandalism, data theft, etc.

How to prevent the threat of cybercrimes?

Individuals and businesses must be aware about basic cyber hygiene and security practices . For example, setup adequate firewalls, install anti0virus software, deploy intrusion detection tools and shield sensitive financial data from the intruders.

Can Cyber Cell Track WhatsApp messages?

Depends on the WhatsApp Chat Backup settings enabled on the particular smartphone. As per WhatsApp, the chat data is completely encrypted making it impossible to decrypt the chat data.

It comes in different forms and different means. Making it difficult to identify and track cybercrimes.

Result: People lose money.

If you have been a victim of cybercrime, don’t panic and report the incident immediately to the police authorities. And don’t forget to take legal advice in case the nature of the crime is complex or the amount of loss is substantial and recurring.

Other consequences of the cybercrime menace in India include loss of revenue, emotional disturbance,  damage to business reputation, national security issues, and more importantly, destruction of moral values in the society.

What are the 8 most common cybercrimes?

The most common forms of cybercrimes are social media frauds, cryptocurrency frauds, financial frauds, loan app frauds, ransomware attacks, online cheating, data theft, bitcoin frauds, identity fraud and sextortion.

What is the Cyber Crime Helpline Number?

The current cyber crime helpline number is 1930. If you are an unfortunate victim of Cyber Crime, Dial 1930 to register a cybercrime complaint for the police authorities to take action.

In case of Cyber Financial Fraud, report immediately. The service is available 24*7

How long do cybercrime investigations take in India?

An investigation may take 6 month to few years, depending on several factors. However, due to the nature of the extreme volatility of the digital evidence such as IP records, server logs, error logs, archive files, etc., it is critical to safeguard the digital evidence within 24-48 hours of the incident.

Fortunately, now you can file reports on cyber crimes (online frauds, fake SMS, loan apps) more easily than before with dedicated CEN Police Stations in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

List of Nodal Agencies in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry

Economic Offences Wing Tamilnadu – Chennai (Tamil Nadu)

Smt. Meena, Superintendent of Police, Sidco,
Alandur Rd, Thiru Vi Ka Industrial Estate,
SIDCO Industrial Estate,
Guindy,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032
Mail speowunit@gmail.com
Phone: 04422501312 0442250131 12

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) Crime Branch CID

Nodal Officer for Puducherry,
Shri. S Venkatasamy, Superintendent of Police,
CID, Dumas Street,
Pondicherry HO,
Pondicherry – 605001
Mail spcid.pon@nic.in
Phone: 04132224061 9489205010

What is CEN Police?

CEN is a short form for Cyber, Economic Offences and Narcotics Police. The primary purpose of CEN Police is to investigate cyber, economic and narcotics offences in the Karnataka state.

How many CEN Police Stations in Bengaluru city?

There are about 8 CEN police stations set up in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

What to do if no cyber crime cell police station?

You can approach the Nodal Agencies (Cyber Crime Cell/Economic Offences Wing) for filing a cyber crime complaint.

In fact, you have multiple ways to approach the Cybercrime Police for the registration of criminal complaints. Either visit a local cybercrime cell or file a cybercrime complaint online using National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. Makes it easier for victims to report complaints irrespective of the place where the offence was committed.

Thanks to the Bengaluru Police’s initiative of reporting cybercrime complaints via WhatsApp number, now no more trouble of visiting police stations or being harassed while lodging complaints.

What is the police jurisdictions of reporting cybercrime complaint/FIR?

In India, cybercrime comes within the purview of global jurisdiction. So, you don’t have to file a complaint where the crime was originally committed, but you can file complaint where you are currently residing.

What happens when a fake cybercrime complaint is filed?

Police authorities will take strict penal action as per the provisions of law for providing any false information.

Online Filing of Cyber Crime Complaints for Chennai Residents

The Government of India has eased the process of reporting cybercrime incidents by creating a website, providing a toll-free number, and launching an app. Now, victims need not fear approaching cyber crime police stations for registration of FIR (First Information Report).

What is National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and its purpose?

National Cybercrime Reporting Portal has been setup for victims of cybercrimes to report the  cybercrime incidents online to the jurisdictional police. Once filed, you can also track your complaint status.

Who set up National Cybercrime Reporting Portal?

It is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India under National Mission for the safety of women to facilitate victims/complainants to report cybercrime complaints online. The ministry also launched “Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)” to combat the growing menace of cybercrimes.

What kind of cybercrime complaints can be filed?

At present, NCRP caters to complaints pertaining to online child pornography, child sexual abuse material or sexually explicit content such as rape/gang rape, revenge porn content, ransomware, cryptocurrency crimes.

What is the helpline of Cybercrime Complaint portal?

You can call up 155260, a toll-free number to report incidents of cybercrimes.

Can I report a cybercrime anonymously?

Yes, the portal has a facility to complain anonymously without any personal information when reporting a cybercrime complaint. Having said that, a complaint must be complete with all relevant data such as when, where, which, how for the authorities to take suitable action.

Is it possible to file a Cyber crime complaint based on WhatsApp chat?

Yes, under the Indian Evidence Act, WhatsApp chat is considered as a electronic document and the same is admissible as digital evidence.

Can I file cybercrime complaint online without mobile number?

Yes, you can file a complaint using https://cybercrime.gov.in

What is ‘Zero FIR’?

Zero FIR refers to first information that can be filed in any police station irrespective of the jurisdiction where the offence was committed, while normal FIR is restricted by jurisdiction.

What happens to ‘Zero FIR’?

Once a Zero FIR is registered, the same is then forwarded to the concerned jurisdictional police station where the offense was committed. Once FIR is registered, then you can track the progress of the case using e-Courts portal

Filing Cybercrime Complaints in Chennai City (Procedure)

Dial 112 to file cybercrime complaints immediately and get the bank accounts of suspects frozen.

The Cybercrime Incident Report (CIR) facility is made available to the victims of cyber crimes, more particularly relating to economic and financial frauds online.

In case of any other emergency situation, Dial 100.

Chennai has specialised Cybercrime Police Stations to tackle the menacing cyber crimes and narcotics cases.

What are the documents for social media-based complaints:

As a complainant in reporting social media frauds or online harassment, you’ll need to collect relevant evidence and materials and produce the same along with your complaint.

1. Provide a copy or screenshot showing the offending profile or content.
2. A screenshot of the URL of the content.
3. Hard and soft copies of the content (screenshots, word/pdf documents, videos, recordings ). In case of financial frauds, provide details of transactions, transaction ids, and messages that you have received or sent.
4. Ensure that a soft copy is provided in a CD or USB pen drive.

How police finds the culprit of a cybercrime online?

Every criminal whether real-world or cyberspace, leaves a trail when committing a crime. The most common form of digital traces are IP address, log files, device information, router information, MAC Id, etc.

Can I report a cybercrime through WhatsApp Mobile number in Chennai, Tamil Nadu?

Sanjay Kumar, City Police Commissioner, introduced the Whatsapp helpline No. 90872 00100 at the inaugural of the awareness programme on cyber crimes organised by the Cyber Crime wing at the AVS Engineering College here on Thursday. Source: The Hindu

You will receive a standard acknowledgement message that reads “We have received your complaint; it has been forwarded to a jurisdictional police station for necessary action.”

Are Cybercrimes classified as cognizable offences?

Yes, most of the cybercrimes under the ambit of Indian Penal Code are classified as cognizable offenses. A cognizable offence refers to offences for which a warrant is not necessary for an arrest or investigation.

Are cybercrimes bailable in India?

Certain offences such as identity theft and cheating by personation are compoundable and bailable under Sections 66C and 66D of the IT Act, whereas the offences under Sections 463, 465, and 468 of the IPC are not compoundable.

How to defreeze my bank account frozen by the Chennai Cybercrime Police?

Once your bank account is frozen on the request of the cybercrime police, you would need  to approach the appropriate court to quash the criminal proceedings and make a request to defreeze the said bank account.

Alternatively, you can visit your bank branch and understand the reason for freezing and prove that the said transaction is genuine. Always seek a proper legal advice from a lawyer before making any attempts on your own.

Draft Complaint For Cyber Crime (Sample Documents)

Sample Document #1:

[Date].
[Place]

To,
The Cyber Cell,
[Address],

Subject: Reporting Bank KYC Financial Frauds

Sir,

That I received a fraudulent call yesterday (date) at about 11 a.m. about updating the KYC details of my bank account, and that If I do not update it as per their instructions, my bank account will be deactivated. I panicked and without giving further thought, I complied and gave the necessary information. Within a matter of minutes, I received an SMS that Rs. 5000 is withdrawn from my account. Then I realized that fraud had been committed against me.

The call number is XXX and I immediately visited the bank branch and enquired with the bank manager. I came to know that these callers are not from the bank but a group of cybercriminals posing as bank officers to extract critical and sensitive bank information from the public to steal their hard-earned money.

So I request you to take strict action against this fraud that happened to me and report it to your cyber crime department.

Thanking you.

Yours Sincerely,

[Your Name],
[Your Mobile No]

Sample Document #2:

[Date].
[Place]

To,
The Cyber Cell,
[Address],

Subject: Unauthorised withdrawal from Bank account / Credit Card / Paytm / Gpay

Sir,

I would like to report an unauthorised withdrawal from my bank account with account no. xx, maintained at branch xx of bank name xx. I received an SMS alerting me about the transaction yesterday (date) at about 11 a.m. I suspect some cyber criminals have hacked my phone/computer and committed this crime.

Details of the Complainant :

Name of Complainant
Address:
Mobile Number
Email address:

Details of the account from which the amount was withdrawn:

Account Number / Credit Card Number / Gpay no / Paytm no
Name of Bank
Branch
Address
Details of the amounts withdrawn

Therefore, I request you to take strict action against this fraud that happened to me and get the money refunded back to me.

Thanking you.

Yours Sincerely,

[Your Name],
[Your Mobile No]

Information Required for Filing of Cyber Crime Complaint

Complains which are based on social media:

• A copy or screenshot viewing the alleged profile/content
• A screenshot of the URL of the alleged content
• Hard/soft copies of the alleged content
• The soft copy is provided in a CD/DVD/Pen Drive

Complains which are email based:

• A written brief about the offence
• A copy of the suspicious email as received by the original receiver (forwarded emails should be avoided)
• The complete header of the suspected email
• Hard and soft copies of the alleged email and its header
• The soft copy is provided in a CD/DVD/Pen Drive

Complains which are done through the mobile app:

• A screenshot of the alleged app and the location from where it was downloaded
• The bank statements of the victim in case any transactions were made after the incident
• Soft copies of all the above documents

For Reporting Unauthorised Financial Transactions:

• A written brief about the offence
• Originating name and location
• Originating bank name and account number
• Recipient’s name (as in bank records)
• Recipient’s bank account number
• Recipient’s bank location (not mandatory)
• Date and amount of transaction
• SWIFT number

For filing complaints against data theft complaints.

• A copy of the stolen data and brief.
• The copyright certificate of the stolen data (optional)
• Details of the suspected employee/ employees.
• Letter of appointment of suspected employment.
• Non-disclosure agreement of the above-said employee

The full form of C.E.N: Cyber, Economic Offences and Narcotics.

The dedicated CEN Crime police stations are set up to investigate cyber, economic and narcotics offences and help fight fast-growing crimes, like cyber fraud or sextortion, in the city of Bengaluru.

Also, you can file complaints against other cybercrimes that severely affect businesses and personal lives such as:

• Online and Social Media related crimes
• Cyber Bullying/Stalking/Sexting
• Fake/Impersonating Profile
• Online Job Fraud
• Website Spoofing,
• Online Matrimonial Fraud
• Profile Hacking
• Hate Speech
• Online Financial Frauds
• Business Frauds/Email Takeover
• Debit/Credit Card Fraud/SIM Swap Fraud
• E-Wallet Related Fraud
• Fraud Call/Vishing
• Internet Banking related Fraud
• Ransomware
• Sextortion
• Hacking
• Unauthorized Access/Data Breach
• Website Related/Defacement
• Cryptocurrency Crime
• Online Trafficking
• Online Gambling
• Phishing Scams

Under what section the police is mandated to register an FIR?

The law prescribes that it is mandatory for the police officer under section 154 of CrPC, to record the information given regarding an offense, regardless of the place where the crime was committed.

Wonder what happens after filing Cyber crime complaint?

First, the police has to register an FIR (First Information Report) to begin an investigation of the cybercrime incident. Next, a report will be prepared based on the investigation. Then, chargesheet will be submitted to the court. Finally, the court procedure will begin.

Can the police deny registration of FIR for cybercrime complaint?

In the instance if your complaint is not taken up, and police refuses to register an FIR, then you can approach a lawyer and file a private complaint in the Magistrate Court as per the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure.

Chennai Cyber Crime Cell Police Stations for filing of Cybercrime Complaints:

Now reporting cybercrime has become a LOT easier in Chennai. If you were subjected to cyber crimes such as Email Fraud, Data Theft, Social Media crimes, Mobile App related crimes, Ransomware, Net Banking/ATM Fraud, Fake Calls Fraud, Cheating Scams, Online Transactions Frauds, insurance Fraud, Lottery Scams, Bitcoin, etc., you can approach the cyber cell without any delay.

Office Locations & Contacts

Cyber Crime Police Station, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Address: No. 220, pantheaon Road, Eqmore, Chennai – 8
Phone: 044-28512527
Email: spcybercbcid.tnpol@nic.in
Website: www.eservices.tnpolice.gov.in

Cyber Crime Police Station, Bangalore

Address:
C.O.D Headquarters,
Carlton House,

1, Palace Road,

Bangalore – 560 001

Contact Details: +91-80-2220 1026, +91-80-2294 3050 and +91-80-2238 7611 (FAX)
Email-id: ccps@blr.vsnl.net.in, ccps@kar.nic.in

East Division | Cyber, Economic and Narcotics [CEN] Crime Police Station

1st Floor,
above Shivajinagar,
Sulthangunta,
Shivaji Nagar,
Bengaluru,
Karnataka – 560051

Yelahanka | Cyber, Economic and Narcotics [CEN] Crime Police Station

Address:
3HWW+CX2,
Nehru Nagar,
Bengaluru,
Karnataka – 560064

NorthEast Division | Cyber, Economic and Narcotics [CEN] Crime Police Station

Palace Road,
Ambedkar Veedhi,
Gandhi Nagar,
Bengaluru,
Karnataka – 560001

Cyber-related complaints of the following police station jurisdictions can be filed at the C.E.N Police Station. These stations are:

• Halasuru Gate P.S.
• Wilson Garden P.S.
• Ashok Nagar P.S.
• Vivek Nagar P.S.
• Seshadripuram P.S.
• High Grounds P.S.
• Silver Jubilee Park P.S.
• Vyalikaval P.S.
• Sadashiva Nagar P.S.
• Cubbon Park P.S.
• Vidhana Soudha and Sampangi Rama Nagar police stations.

Cyber Crime Cell Police Stations in Other Parts of India (Offices & Locations)

Has your Bank account “debit freeze” due to cyber cell police notice?

Here are the steps you need to follow to unfreeze the bank account that was debit freeze due to a complaint lodged against you in the Cybercrime cell:

The important question is “How do I unfreeze my bank account?”.

I’ve been getting several calls from people across India that their bank account transactions were blocked. On contacting their bank managers, they found that the reason for the “debit freeze” is due to the notice received from the cybercrime branch in another state. It is important to note that the complainant might be in a different city and far away from the jurisdictional bank branch. So, cybercrime police can freeze a bank account anywhere in India.

And if you approach the bank manager, they will not share the cybercrime cell notice, nor reveal any particulars or reasons for the freeze.

At this point, your last resort is to approach an expert cybercrime lawyer who knows, understands and practices cybercrime laws to make necessary enquiries with the jurisdictional cyber crime police station and gather necessary evidence, documents and reasons for putting a hold on the bank account. It is important that you take immediate steps to unfreeze the account no matter how small the bank balance is. Because, if there’s a complaint against you and yet you do not take proper defence to come out of the case, then it’ll only cause much bigger issues later on. There are several reasons why your account might have been put on a debit freeze, but it is important that you engage a lawyer and come out clean.

Get Court Order to Recover Defrauded or Lost Money by Online Scammers

On the other hand, if you have been subjected to online frauds, advance fee scams, fake part-time jobs scams, and cryptocurrency trading scams and your money is lost, then when you make a complaint, in that aspect also, the cybercrime police station will issue a notice to the accused bank and the bank will place the account on hold as debit freeze. While the investigation is going on, the police authorities will ask you to approach a lawyer and file the necessary application with the jurisdictional court to get back your lost money through a court order.

Do you need help in getting your lost money back? WhatsApp case details, FIR no, and bank statements and we can immediately file a necessary application to get the court order from the Magistrate Courts in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

FAQs on Cybercrime Complaint Process

When was the first cyber crime cell set up in India?

What is CERT-IN?

What laws governs Cybercrimes in India?

How many cybercrime cases filed in Karnataka State for the last 3 years?

How to report online harassment, hate speech, and bullying on Social Media platforms?

Most social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube have strict policies and clear redressal mechanisms for the users to register their cybercrime complaints on their platforms.

Are you a victim of cyber fraud? Talk to us.