Legal information notice: this article provides general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer.
Once you’ve confirmed identity theft has happened, the actual reporting itself can be done entirely online, from home, without visiting a police station first in most cases. Here’s exactly which portal to use for what, so you’re not stuck figuring out where to even start.
Choose “Report Cyber Crime,” then select the category that best matches your situation — financial fraud, or “Report Other Cyber Crime” for identity theft not involving a direct monetary loss.
Complete registration with OTP verification on your registered mobile number to begin your complaint.
Describe exactly what happened, when you discovered it, and which specific document or service was misused — precision here helps the investigation significantly.
Attach screenshots, transaction records, notices, or any other documentation you’ve gathered — the strength of your evidence directly affects how actionable your complaint is.
This number is essential for tracking your complaint’s status and for any follow-up with the affected institution or in an escalation.
File your cybercrime.gov.in complaint even if you’ve already reported the same incident to your bank, UIDAI, or another institution — these are complementary, not redundant, since the cyber crime portal creates the official law-enforcement-facing record while the institution-specific complaint handles the direct correction/dispute on that particular document or account.
| Situation | Primary Portal/Contact |
|---|---|
| Any case with financial loss or fraud | cybercrime.gov.in, always, alongside anything else |
| Aadhaar authentication misuse specifically | UIDAI (1947 / help@uidai.gov.in), in addition to cybercrime.gov.in |
| A specific document/account issue (bank, SIM, GST, MCA) | That institution's own dedicated process, in addition to cybercrime.gov.in |
No. Every official portal and helpline listed here is completely free.
Yes — the online reporting process itself is designed for direct self-service. A lawyer becomes relevant for formal disputes, significant financial losses, or if an institution denies a well-documented claim.
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Find a Lawyer on VidyodayFiling online is just the reporting step — see our pillar guide on identity theft in India for the complete picture, including which document-specific guide to follow next based on what actually happened to you.
In most cases, no — cybercrime.gov.in allows you to file your complaint entirely online; a physical FIR is only needed in specific cases, such as a lost/stolen document duplicate application.
Choose the category that most closely matches the primary harm (financial fraud vs. other cyber crime) — you can provide full details in the description regardless of the exact category chosen.
Use your acknowledgment number on the cybercrime.gov.in portal to check your complaint’s current status.
Yes — these are complementary processes, not duplicates; each institution’s own complaint process is what actually corrects or disputes the specific document or account.
cybercrime.gov.in does have provisions for anonymous reporting in certain categories, though providing your details generally allows for a more actionable investigation and any potential recovery.
This varies by case complexity and category — reporting quickly and with strong evidence generally leads to faster, more effective action.
It’s generally better to file one comprehensive complaint covering everything you’ve discovered, referencing all affected documents/services, rather than several fragmented ones.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Portal features and categories can change — verify current guidance directly on cybercrime.gov.in before filing.
