Cyber Crime Helpline in India 2026: What to Do Immediately If You Are Hacked

If you have just been hacked — phone scam, UPI fraud, account takeover, ransomware — the next 60 minutes matter more than the next 60 days. Most Indians lose money because they wait, hoping it sorts itself out. This guide is the action plan: who to call, what to file, and what your local cyber cell can actually do.

1. The National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930

Dial 1930 immediately if you have lost money to a cyber fraud. This is the official central helpline operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under MHA. Operators speak Hindi and English.

Best results: call within 24 hours. Funds can often be temporarily frozen at the receiving bank if reported quickly.

2. cybercrime.gov.in — File a Written Report

After calling 1930, file a formal complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. You'll get a complaint number; keep it safe.

Have ready:

• Date, time, and brief description of incident
• Transaction IDs, UTR / IMPS reference
• Screenshots of fraud messages, call logs
• Bank statement reflecting the fraudulent transaction
• Your government ID (Aadhaar or PAN)

3. Local Cyber Cell — Haryana Specific

Haryana has a State Cyber Crime Police Station in Panchkula and district cyber cells across Hisar, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohtak, and Karnal.

• Hisar Cyber Cell: approach the local SP office or Cyber Crime Cell at Police Lines
• Bring printed copies of your 1930 report acknowledgement and cybercrime.gov.in complaint
• An FIR is helpful for high-value cases and bank dispute resolution

4. The First 60 Minutes — Action Checklist

1. Stop any active loss — call your bank's fraud helpline, freeze the affected account
2. Change passwords — start with email, then bank, then social media
3. Revoke all sessions — Gmail, WhatsApp Web, browser-saved logins
4. Enable 2FA everywhere if not already
5. Disconnect compromised devices from the internet
6. Call 1930
7. File at cybercrime.gov.in
8. Visit local cyber cell within 24 hours

UPI / Online Banking Fraud — Specific Steps

• Call your bank's fraud number IMMEDIATELY (it's printed on every debit card)
• RBI directive: report within 3 working days for limited liability protection
• Beyond 7 days — you may bear the full loss

Ransomware on a Business in Haryana — What to Do

1. Do NOT pay the ransom — bad incentive, no guarantee
2. Isolate infected systems from the network (unplug LAN, disable Wi-Fi)
3. Preserve evidence — do not wipe systems
4. Contact a qualified IR firm for forensic recovery — read our ransomware response guide
5. Report to CERT-In within 6 hours (mandatory under 2022 directions)
6. File a case with local cyber cell + cybercrime.gov.in

Phishing Email or SMS — Report It

• Forward to report.phishing@incometax.gov.in if it impersonates the IT department
• Forward to 1909 via SMS if it's a spam / fraud SMS
• Report to incident@cert-in.org.in for cyber incidents on businesses

How Cyber Defence Academy Helps

We run free cyber-safety awareness sessions in Hisar / Haryana schools and SMEs. Many of our forensics graduates work directly with state cyber cells and corporate IR teams. Read more on our digital forensics service.

FAQs

Will I get my money back from UPI fraud?

Often partial recovery is possible if you report to 1930 within 24 hours and the receiving account is frozen before withdrawal.

Can the cyber cell trace the hacker?

Sometimes yes (Indian-domestic fraud rings). For international hackers, recovery is harder but ongoing case.

Is FIR required for cyber crime?

Not always — most cases proceed on cybercrime.gov.in complaint. FIR helps for high-value or insurance-related cases.