'Digital arrest' scam complaint: fake CBI, police or customs call

Call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in (Report Cyber Crime > Financial Fraud) right away and note the acknowledgement number. That alert goes to the banks involved and is the only quick way to get the money held before it is withdrawn. Then block your card, UPI and net banking through your bank's official helpline or app, and report in writing to the bank the same day. Fraudshikayat gives you the exact text for each.

It depends on two things. First, whether the money was held in time: if the 1930/portal alert reaches the receiving bank before the fraudster withdraws it, the amount is put on hold and can later be released to you. Second, whether the debit was unauthorised: under RBI's 2017 circular, if you didn't approve the transactions (for example, a screen-sharing app or card misuse) and you report to your bank within 3 working days, your liability can be zero. If you approved the payment yourself (entered your UPI PIN for a 'refund', paid a task or trading scam), banks usually refuse a reversal and recovery depends on the hold and the police case. We say honestly which applies to you.

RBI's circular of 6 July 2017 says that for an unauthorised electronic transaction caused by a third-party breach (not your fault and not the bank's), you have zero liability if you report to the bank within 3 working days of getting its SMS or email. Between 4 and 7 working days, your liability is capped at ₹5,000, ₹10,000 or ₹25,000 depending on the account type. After that, the bank's own policy applies. The bank must credit the amount within 10 working days of your report and resolve it within 90 days, and it has to prove that you were at fault. The free calculator on this page works out your limit.

Frozen money does not come back automatically. Usually you need an order from the Judicial Magistrate under section 503 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (formerly section 457 CrPC) directing the bank to release it, after the police verify your claim. Some states also release money through Lok Adalats or a bank process for smaller amounts, and some courts ask for an indemnity bond. Choose 'Money is frozen / on hold' and we draft the application; a local lawyer can file it if you prefer.

Online cheating is a cognizable offence, so the police must register an FIR under section 173 BNSS, and you can file it at any station as a Zero FIR. If they refuse, send the complaint in writing to the Superintendent of Police (section 173(4) BNSS), and if that fails, apply to the Magistrate under section 175(3). Your NCRP complaint stays valid in the meantime. The police complaint we draft includes this escalation.

To the RBI Ombudsman, free, at cms.rbi.org.in (or CRPC@rbi.org.in, helpline 14448). You can file if the bank rejects your written complaint or doesn't reply within 30 days, and you must file within 1 year of the bank's reply. Choose 'Bank refused or did not reply' and we write the Ombudsman complaint with the RBI grounds.

Yes. Choose 'My bank account was frozen'. You get a letter asking your bank for the complaint number, police station and amount on hold, a request to limit the hold to the disputed amount (several High Courts have said banks should hold only that amount, not freeze the whole account), and a representation to the investigating officer with your proof. If the matter goes to court, you will need a lawyer, and we say so.

No. Fraudshikayat writes the documents; you file them yourself on cybercrime.gov.in, email or hand them to your bank, and submit them at the police station. That keeps your data with you and avoids middlemen. Nobody genuine will ask you for a fee to recover your money, so be careful of 'recovery agents' who call after a fraud.

Your first kit is free. After that it is ₹149 per kit, which includes 2 revisions (for example, to add a second transaction or the acknowledgement number). There is no subscription.

Never type your full card number, CVV, UPI PIN, OTP or passwords anywhere, including here. Transaction IDs, amounts, dates, the fraudster's numbers and the last 4 digits of your account are enough for every document.