A Complete Guide to Report Online Fraud

In the last few years, technology has made significant changes to every aspect of people’s lives, and finances are one of them. From shopping to bill payments, making investments to banking transactions, almost everything can be done online. While this concept of digital payments has made things quick and convenient for people, the risk of financial fraud has also increased significantly. There are several reports showing that Indians are losing several thousand crores to online scams every year, and this figure is increasing every year. 

Table of Content

• What is online fraud?
• What to do if online fraud happens?
• How to report online fraud?
• Tips to Avoid Online Frauds

What is online fraud?

Online fraud can be defined as a malicious activity that has been conducted over the internet. From phishing attacks to identity theft, all kinds of crimes are included in this vast category. While each one of these crimes is equally dangerous, financial scams are undoubtedly one of the major threats in today’s time. Cyber criminals are using different ways, like fake loan apps, UPI frauds, etc., to steal people’s money.

What to do if online fraud happens?

The rising number of online frauds in India is definitely a major concern. If you ever suspect that you have been the victim of a financial scam, taking immediate action is required to minimise the damage. This situation can be anything, such as coming across a transaction that you can’t recognise or clicking on a link that led to money deduction from your account. The very first thing you need to do in such a situation is contact your bank using the given customer care number and inform them about the same. They can freeze your account temporarily so that no more fraudulent transactions can happen. Apart from this, they will also provide a few instructions on securing your finances.

How to report online fraud?

The Government of India has launched an online portal to help victims of all types of cybercrimes, including online frauds. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is a platform where you can raise a complaint regarding financial scams.

If you’re also thinking, ‘How do I report online fraud?’, here is the detailed stepwise process to file a complaint:

Step 1: Visit the website

The very first step is to go to the official website of the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://www.cybercrime.gov.in//). On the homepage, you’ll see an option ‘File a complaint’. After clicking here, you can review the terms and conditions. To initiate the process of complaint filing, click on the ‘Report other cybercrime’ button.

Step 2: Log in

Select the ‘citizen login’ option, and then you’ll be asked to provide details like your name, email, phone number, and more. For verification, this portal uses OTP (One-Time Password), which is sent to your registered phone number. Enter that OTP in the specific field and fill in the captcha to verify your identity. After this, you can click on the ‘Submit’ button to proceed.

Step 3: File the Complaint

Now, you will be directed to a form which is divided into four sections: General Information, Victim Information, Cybercrime Information, and Preview. You need to provide all the relevant details in each section accurately. Once done, review the information you’ve entered to check its accuracy. To officially register your complaint, click on ‘Submit’.

Step 4: Provide Incident Details

The next screen will be an incident details page. Here, you need to provide specific details of the online fraud incident and also upload the supporting evidence, if you have any. For this, you can use any relevant documents, such as screenshots, PDFs, etc. Once done, click on ‘Save and Next’.

Step 5: Add Information about the Suspect

The next page will prompt you to provide any information you have about the suspect(s). Fill in the details, if available.

Step 6: Verify and Submit

Now review all the information that you’ve provided till now and check its accuracy. Once you are sure that everything is correct, click on the ‘Submit’ button to complete the process.

Within a few minutes, you will receive a confirmation message that your complaint has been successfully registered. You’ll also get an email that will contain your complaint ID and other relevant details related to your complaint.

Suggested Read: How to Protect Yourself from Loan Fraud in India?

Tips to Avoid Online Frauds

• Always be cautious of any suspicious phone calls, emails, etc.
• Never click on any links that you have received from an unverified source.
• Use strong passwords for your bank accounts, and also enable two-factor authentication for better security.

To minimise the risk of online fraud, it is always important to choose a renowned, established institution for all finance-related matters. Muthoot Finance is India’s No. 1 most trusted financial partner that offers the facility of secure digital payments. Whether you are obtaining a loan or making an investment, we ensure that each transaction is safe and secure. For any queries, you can either reach out to us online or visit your nearest Muthoot Finance branch.