The legal framework
Section 66C of the IT Act punishes the fraudulent use of another person's electronic signature, password or unique identification feature; section 66D covers cheating by personation using a computer resource. Reports are made on the national cybercrime portal or by calling 1930, and rapid reporting can allow the transferred funds to be frozen before they are withdrawn.
Key points
| Statute | IT Act sections 66C and 66D, plus penal code cheating and forgery provisions |
|---|---|
| Helpline | 1930, the national cyber financial fraud helpline |
| Portal | cybercrime.gov.in for written complaints |
| Golden hour | Reporting within the first hour greatly improves the chance of freezing funds |
| Aadhaar | Biometrics can be locked and a virtual ID used instead of the number |
| Credit | Free annual credit report from each of the four credit bureaus |
| Aadhaar lock | Biometrics can be locked and unlocked on demand |
| Virtual ID | Use it instead of the Aadhaar number for verification |
| Limited liability | Reserve Bank rules cap customer liability where the report is prompt |
In practice
- Call 1930 immediately: speed determines whether the money can be stopped.
- Lock your Aadhaar biometrics and use a virtual ID for verification.
- File the complaint on the portal and get the acknowledgement number.
- Obtain your credit reports and dispute loans you did not take.
- Lock your Aadhaar biometrics: it takes minutes and prevents most misuse.
Where to go
- National cybercrime reporting portal, cybercrime.gov.in.
- Helpline 1930.
- Banking Ombudsman under the RBI integrated scheme.
Worth knowing
Reserve Bank rules limit customer liability for unauthorised electronic transactions where the customer reports promptly: the delay in reporting is what determines how much you bear. Reserve Bank rules make liability depend on how quickly you report. Reporting within three days can reduce your liability to nothing.
Official sources and links
- India.gov.in — national portal of India
- India Code — central and state legislation