A cyber crime complaint in India is registered against an acknowledgement: either a first information report (FIR) with its number and police station, or a complaint reference on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). You check the status of that complaint using that number, quoting the police station and the investigating officer assigned to the case. If no FIR was registered, you can still ask the cyber cell in writing for the action taken, escalate to the senior officer of the district, and, if nothing moves, apply to the magistrate under Section 175(3) BNSS 2023 (formerly Section 156(3) CrPC) to direct an investigation.
When this matters
A complaint that is acknowledged is not the same as a complaint that is acted on. Fraud calls, fake profiles, hacked accounts and blackmail are reported to the local police, to the cyber cell, or online through the portal, and all three produce a different kind of reference. The portal gives you a complaint number you can log back into; the police station gives you a station diary entry or an FIR copy; the cyber cell gives you a receipt. Knowing which one you hold is the first step to tracking the matter, because each is followed up at a different desk.
If you have a financial cyber fraud alongside the criminal complaint, remember that the police complaint and the bank claim run on two separate tracks, and the timeline on the criminal side does not control the bank side.
What the acknowledgement number is and how to use it
- An FIR number looks like a two-part reference: a serial number for the year and the police station code. Quote it exactly when you follow up.
- A portal complaint reference is issued when you file through the NCRP. Keep the confirmation page and the number; you can log in again with your registered mobile number.
- A station diary entry is a general diary (GD) entry recording the information you gave when no FIR was registered. Ask for a copy; it is your proof of the date you reported.
- When you follow up, ask for the name of the investigating officer, the rank, and the phone number of the cyber cell. A written application addressed to the officer in charge asking for the present status, and a duplicate copy stamped as received, creates a record.
Always carry a photocopy of your complaint and the acknowledgement so the receiving desk can note the reference on your follow-up application.
What the police do at each stage of a cyber complaint
- Registration: the information is recorded and, where a cognizable offence is disclosed, an FIR is registered under Section 173 BNSS 2023 (formerly Section 154 CrPC).
- Preliminary enquiry: the cyber cell may seek the account details, IP logs or subscriber records from the bank or the platform, usually through a formal requisition or under Section 94 BNSS (formerly Section 91 CrPC) requiring production of documents.
- Investigation: statements are recorded, devices may be seized and sent for forensic examination and a seizure memo is prepared. The money trail is traced through the beneficiary accounts.
- Recovery of funds: where the police alert the bank and the nodal officer quickly, the beneficiary account may be frozen before the funds are withdrawn further.
- Final report: the investigation ends in a chargesheet, a closure report, or a referral, and you are entitled to notice and a copy of the outcome.
When the complaint is closed or no action is reported
If the police close the matter or simply stop responding, you have escalating options. First send a written representation to the officer in charge and, if still unanswered, to the Superintendent of Police or Commissioner of Police of the district, setting out the complaint reference, the dates of your follow-ups, and the relief sought. Second, where the complaint concerns a cognizable offence and the police take no action, apply to the magistrate under Section 175(3) BNSS 2023 (formerly Section 156(3) CrPC); the magistrate can direct that an investigation be conducted. Where the offence is non-cognizable, a complaint can be filed before the magistrate under Section 223 BNSS 2023 (formerly Section 190 CrPC). Keep proof of every letter you send, because the magistrate reads the correspondence to see whether the police were actually given a chance.
The bank's separate chargeback track
For money lost in fraud, the police complaint does not by itself return your funds. The recovery route is a chargeback raised with your own bank, and it follows the Reserve Bank of India framework for limiting the liability of customers in unauthorised electronic banking transactions. Inform the bank the same day, in writing, and follow up with the transaction reference. If the bank rejects the claim or delays it, the cyber and banking recovery desk can pursue the bank's grievance redressal officer and the banking ombudsman in parallel. More on how these complaints progress is collected on our blog.
Records to keep
- The complaint copy with the acknowledgement or FIR number, and a photocopy of the station diary entry.
- Every follow-up application with the receiving stamp, and the name and number of the officer you spoke to.
- Bank statements showing the disputed debits, and the chargeback or dispute reference with the bank.
- Screenshots of messages, call logs, UPI references or beneficiary account details given to the police.
Common mistakes
- Reporting only online and never following up at the police station, so no officer is actually seized of the matter.
- Losing the acknowledgement number, which is the only way to trace the complaint.
- Waiting weeks before telling the bank, which weakens the claim that the transaction was unauthorised.
- Assuming the criminal complaint will return the money without a separate bank claim.
Common questions
Can I check the status of a cyber complaint online?
Where you filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal you can log in with your registered mobile number and view the complaint and its status. For an FIR, the status is checked with the police station or the cyber cell by quoting the FIR number; a written application gives you a documented reply.
What if the police refuse to register my complaint?
Ask for the refusal in writing. If the offence is cognizable and no FIR is registered, you can send the substance of the information in writing to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4) BNSS 2023 and, if there is still no action, apply to the magistrate under Section 175(3) BNSS 2023.
Does the bank depend on the police case?
No. The bank processes a chargeback on its own records and its own timelines. A pending police case supports your version of events, but do not wait for the police outcome before raising the dispute with the bank.
How long does a cyber investigation take?
There is no fixed period. The pace depends on how quickly the money trail is traced, whether the beneficiary account is frozen, and how fast the platform or bank responds to the requisition. Regular written follow-ups keep the file active.
FileX Advocates & Legal Consultants, Kolkata, drafts and files these matters before the Calcutta High Court, City Civil and Sessions courts, magistrate, family, consumer and tribunal forums. Call +91 7439811422 or WhatsApp us for a free first consultation.