Lost Money in a UPI or Online Fraud? How to Complain and Try to Get It Back
The problem
Money has left your account through a UPI payment, a card transaction or a link you clicked. You did not authorise it, or you were tricked into it. Every hour matters.
Example: A person receives a call from a fake “courier company” and shares an OTP. ₹85,000 is taken from the account within minutes.
What the law says
Cyber fraud is a crime under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). Under RBI rules on unauthorised electronic transactions, your liability can be zero if the fraud was not your fault and you report it to your bank within 3 working days. Reporting quickly also lets banks freeze the money before it is moved.
What you can do – step by step
- Call 1930 immediately. This is the national cyber fraud helpline. Give the transaction details.
- Report on cybercrime.gov.in. File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and note the acknowledgment number.
- Inform your bank in writing through its app, email or branch. Ask it to block the card or UPI and to raise a dispute. Keep the complaint number.
- Visit the cyber crime police station if the amount is large, and ask for an FIR.
- Follow up with the bank. If the bank does not reply within 30 days, or you are not satisfied, complain to the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in.
- Go to court if needed. Where money was frozen in another account, an application can be made for its release to you.
Documents to keep
- Screenshots of the transactions, messages and call logs
- Bank statement showing the debit
- Acknowledgments from 1930, the portal and the bank
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting a day or two before reporting.
- Paying a “recovery agent” who promises to get your money back. This is often a second fraud.
- Deleting the fraudster’s messages or call history.
Contact
To speak to an advocate, call +91 63660 42792 or email contact@baselegal.in. You can also send us a message. Read more about our Criminal Law practice.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Please speak to an advocate about your own case.