In May 2026, Priya Mehta from Pune received a WhatsApp message claiming she won ₹25 lakh in the 'Kaun Banega Crorepati Lucky Draw' and paid ₹87,000 as 'processing fees' before realizing she was scammed by organized fraudsters using fake government logos and forged celebrity endorsements.
Citizen Crisis Response Network is a public-awareness initiative documenting statutory remedies, complaint templates, and recovery workflows for Indians facing scams, frauds, and rights violations. Every guide references primary law and verifiable government channels.
To report a fake lottery scam in India: (1) immediately stop all payments and save evidence (messages, call logs, bank statements); (2) file an FIR at your local police station or online via cybercrime.gov.in citing BNS 2024 Section 318(4) for cheating and Section 319 for cheating by personation; (3) lodge a complaint with your bank to freeze the fraudster's account under BNSS 2024 Section 106; (4) report to the National Consumer Helpline (1915) if advance fees were demanded; (5) file an RTI with the Cyber Crime Cell for case status; (6) consult a lawyer if losses exceed ₹50,000; (7) warn family and friends to prevent repeat victimization.
Fake lottery scams have evolved significantly in 2026. Fraudsters send SMS, WhatsApp messages, emails, or phone calls claiming the recipient won a lottery, prize, or lucky draw. Common lures include 'KBC Lottery,' 'Big Boss Lucky Draw,' 'Government of India COVID Relief Lottery,' or international schemes like 'UK National Lottery' and 'Dubai Mega Raffle.' The message congratulates the victim, provides a fake ticket number, and instructs them to contact a 'lottery coordinator' via phone or WhatsApp.
Once contact is established, scammers demand upfront payments disguised as 'processing fees,' 'GST,' 'customs duty,' 'insurance,' or 'legal documentation charges.' Victims transfer money to bank accounts, UPI IDs, cryptocurrency wallets, or recharge gift cards. After the first payment, fraudsters invent new fees, escalating demands until victims realize the fraud or run out of money.
Advanced 2026 tactics include deepfake videos of celebrities announcing winners, cloned government websites with .in domains purchased abroad, forged Income Tax Department letters, fabricated Reserve Bank of India approvals, and impersonation of senior police officers or judges. Scammers use spoofed caller IDs displaying official government helpline numbers and create WhatsApp groups with fake 'previous winners' (all accomplices) sharing testimonials.
Warning — Legitimate lotteries in India are regulated under state laws and the Lotteries (Regulation) Act 1998. The central government does not conduct lotteries, and no genuine lottery demands advance fees. Any message claiming you won a lottery you never entered is fraud.
The scam pipeline typically involves multiple criminals: the 'front-end' caller who builds trust, the 'banker' who collects payments through mule accounts, and the 'closer' who pressures victims with fabricated legal threats. Organized syndicates operate from rented call centers in NCR, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and increasingly from neighboring countries using Indian SIM cards obtained via fake KYC.
Victims span all demographics but elderly citizens, homemakers, students, and small-town residents face disproportionate targeting. The psychological manipulation exploits greed, urgency (24-hour deadlines), authority (fake government seals), and social proof (testimonials). By the time victims consult family or search online, thousands or lakhs have been transferred.
Financially, lottery and “prize” frauds account for a large share of the online financial fraud reported to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) each year, and the true loss is widely believed to be much higher than reported because many victims stay silent out of shame, lack of awareness, or a belief that recovery is impossible.
Fake lottery scams violate multiple Indian statutes. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2024 (BNS) replaced the IPC in July 2024 and provides the primary criminal framework. Section 318(4) BNS 2024 penalizes cheating by inducing a person to deliver property through deception, prescribing imprisonment up to 7 years and fine. Section 319 BNS 2024 addresses cheating by personation (pretending to be a government officer or lottery official), attracting imprisonment up to 5 years or fine or both.
Section 336 BNS 2024 criminalizes forgery, applicable when scammers forge government seals, letterheads, or certificates. The forgery and forged-document offences in Sections 336 to 340 BNS 2024 also cover using a forged document or electronic record as genuine. If scammers operate as organized syndicates, Section 111 BNS 2024 (organized crime, which expressly includes economic offences and cyber-crimes) becomes relevant, carrying severe punishment up to imprisonment for life.
The Information Technology Act 2000 (as amended in 2008) applies to digital fraud. Section 66D IT Act punishes cheating by personation using computer resources with imprisonment up to 3 years and fine up to ₹1 lakh. Section 66C IT Act targets identity theft (using fake names or logos) with similar penalties.
Most citizens miss this — The Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act 1978 prohibits pyramid schemes disguised as lotteries. If the scam involves recruiting others for commissions, report under this Act to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, not just police.
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2024 (BNSS), which replaced CrPC, governs procedure. Section 173 BNSS 2024 mandates police registration of cognizable offenses (including cheating). Section 106 BNSS 2024 (the provision that replaced Section 102 CrPC) empowers police to seize property, including bank balances, suspected to be connected with an offence; the magistrate-supervised attachment of proceeds of crime is dealt with under Section 107 BNSS 2024.
The Consumer Protection Act 2019 allows victims to file complaints against unfair trade practices. Section 2(47) CPA 2019 defines 'unfair trade practice' to include false representations and misleading advertisements. District Consumer Forums have jurisdiction up to ₹50 lakh, State Commissions between ₹50 lakh and ₹2 crore, and the National Commission above ₹2 crore.
For international scams (e.g., fake Dubai lotteries), the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA) and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) enable cross-border enforcement, though recovery is slower. The Lotteries (Regulation) Act 1998 and state-specific lottery laws define legal lotteries; anything outside this framework is unauthorized.
Victims also have civil remedies. A civil suit for recovery of the money can be filed under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, and Order XXXVII CPC (summary suits) enables faster adjudication for documentary-evidence cases, though fraudsters rarely appear.
Immediate action maximizes recovery chances. Step 1: Stop all communication and payments. Do not send more money or share OTPs, bank details, or Aadhaar numbers. Screenshot all messages, save call recordings (if your phone auto-records or you enabled recording), note down dates, times, amounts, and account numbers.
Step 2: Visit your nearest police station within 24 hours. Under Section 173 BNSS 2024, police must register an FIR for cognizable offenses like cheating. Bring printed evidence (screenshots, bank statements, transaction receipts) and a written complaint. If the police refuse or delay, you may approach the Superintendent of Police under Section 175 BNSS 2024 (the remedy where an officer refuses to record information about a cognizable offence) and request acknowledgment, or file your complaint online.
Step 3: Simultaneously file a complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in). This portal, managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, centralizes cybercrime complaints and forwards them to the concerned state Cyber Crime Cell. Select 'Financial Fraud' → 'Lottery Fraud' and fill in details. The portal generates a unique acknowledgment number; retain it for tracking.
Do this immediately — Within 2 hours of realizing fraud, call your bank's fraud helpline and the cybercrime helpline 1930. Report the fraudster's account number and UPI ID to freeze funds under BNSS Section 106 before they're withdrawn or layered across multiple accounts.
Step 4: If the scam involved UPI, contact NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) at [email protected] with transaction IDs. Banks must respond to fraudulent transaction complaints within 3 working days per RBI guidelines.
Step 5: Report to the Reserve Bank of India's Complaint Management System (https://cms.rbi.org.in) if your bank delayed freezing the fraudster's account. RBI can direct banks to cooperate.
Step 6: Lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) by calling 1915 or visiting https://consumerhelpline.gov.in. This creates a parallel consumer protection record and can pressure fraudsters who use registered business fronts.
Step 7: File an RTI application with your state Cyber Crime Cell after 15 days to obtain the status of investigation, details of accused identified, and amount recovered. Use https://rtionline.gov.in or the RTI Assistant at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/rti-assistant for template generation.
Document every interaction: note the FIR number, IO (Investigating Officer) name and badge number, and complaint reference numbers from each portal. Visit the police station weekly for updates and submit written reminders, since the BNSS prescribes timelines for completing investigation and filing the police report.
Speed is critical. Once you report through the cybercrime helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in, the system generates a request to the fraudster's bank to put a hold on the disputed amount — the sooner you report, the more likely the money is still in the account.
Section 106 BNSS 2024 (which replaced Section 102 CrPC) empowers police to seize property (including bank balances) if they believe it was used in a cognizable offense. The Investigating Officer issues a letter to the bank requesting an account freeze. However, banks often delay due to workload or procedural confusion.
Citizen tip — Send a direct email to the fraudster bank's Nodal Officer (every bank lists them on their website under 'Grievance Redressal') with your FIR copy, transaction proof, and cybercrime portal acknowledgment. CC the Banking Ombudsman and your own bank's fraud team.
If the fraudster account is with a payment bank (Paytm Payments Bank, Airtel Payments Bank), contact them via their fraud email immediately. Payment banks often cooperate faster due to lighter workloads.
If your bank does not act on a valid police or cybercrime intimation, escalate in writing and keep a record of the delay — it strengthens any later complaint to the RBI Ombudsman.
The Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 (PSS Act) obligates payment system operators to assist law enforcement. If the fraud involved UPI, Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm, write to their grievance officers and mention Section 23 PSS Act (penalties for non-compliance).
For cryptocurrency transfers (increasingly common in 2026), report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) at [email protected]. Crypto exchanges like WazirX, CoinDCX, and international platforms must freeze wallets linked to Indian bank accounts upon FIU request.
Track the money trail. Request your bank to provide the IFSC code and branch of the fraudster's account, then file an RTI with that bank (public sector banks are covered under RTI Act 2005) asking for account holder details and balance freeze confirmation. Private banks respond to RBI complaints.
If funds moved to international accounts (common in Dubai/Singapore scams), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under PMLA can issue Letters Rogatory via MLATs. This takes 6-24 months but is the only legal route for cross-border recovery.
Why speed matters — The chance of getting money back is far higher when fraud is reported within the first few hours, while the funds are still sitting in the recipient account, and falls sharply once the money is withdrawn or layered across several accounts. Report immediately; time is your most valuable asset.
The Consumer Protection Act 2019 offers a parallel remedy especially effective when scammers impersonate legitimate businesses or use registered company fronts. If the fraudster claimed affiliation with a real lottery operator, bank, or telecom company, file a complaint under Section 35 CPA 2019 for unfair trade practice and deficiency in service.
Step 1: Identify the appropriate forum. For claims up to ₹50 lakh, approach the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (District Forum) where you reside or where the fraud occurred. Use https://edaakhil.nic.in (National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's e-filing portal) for online filing.
Step 2: Draft the complaint on plain paper or use Form I prescribed under Consumer Protection Rules 2020. State: (a) your details; (b) respondent details (fraudster's phone number, bank account, UPI ID, any company name used); © date and nature of transaction; (d) evidence of fraud; (e) relief sought (refund plus compensation for mental agony and legal costs).
Step 3: Attach documents: FIR copy, bank statements, screenshots, call recordings (on CD/USB), and an affidavit. Pay the nominal court fee (₹100-500 depending on claim).
Most citizens miss this — Even if you cannot identify the fraudster's real name, you can implead 'Unknown persons using mobile number +91-XXXXXXXXXX and bank account XXXX' as respondents. The Forum can direct telecom companies and banks to disclose the details needed to identify the people behind those numbers and accounts.
Section 2(11) CPA 2019 defines 'deficiency' as any fault, imperfection, shortcoming or inadequacy in the quality or manner of performance of a service. If your bank delayed freezing the account or your telecom provider failed to block the fraudster's number despite complaints, join them as co-respondents.
Consumer Forums can order a refund and can also award compensation for mental agony and litigation costs where unfair trade practice or deficiency in service is proved.
If the District Commission dismisses your complaint (unlikely if the evidence is solid), you can appeal to the State Consumer Commission within the limitation period prescribed under the Consumer Protection Act 2019. Further appeal lies to the National Commission and finally to the Supreme Court.
Consumer forums are faster than civil courts (median 6-14 months vs. 3-7 years), do not require lawyers (though advisable for amounts over ₹5 lakh), and have simpler evidence rules. However, enforcement of orders requires separate execution proceedings if fraudsters do not comply voluntarily.
Beyond criminal prosecution and consumer complaints, victims can pursue civil recovery. File a civil suit under Order XXXVII CPC (summary suit) in the District Court for recovery of money. This is effective when you have clear documentary evidence (bank transfers, written agreements, even fraudulent ones).
Order XXXVIII Rule 5 CPC allows attachment of the defendant's property before judgment if the court is satisfied the defendant is about to dispose of or remove assets to defeat a possible decree. Apply for this relief, with specific particulars, citing the risk of dissipation.
Criminal compensation is another avenue. Section 395 BNSS 2024 (which replaced Section 357 CrPC) empowers courts to order compensation to victims when passing judgment, and the accused can be directed to pay compensation out of the fine collected or otherwise. The amount depends on the loss and the accused's means.
Do this immediately — Include a prayer for compensation in your initial complaint/FIR. Mention the exact amount lost and request the court to award compensation during judgment.
If police recover money from the fraudster's account, it can be returned to you on conclusion of the proceedings, which can take a long time.
For untraced or absconding accused, apply to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) under the Victim Compensation Scheme, which is now provided for in Section 396 BNSS 2024 (formerly Section 357A CrPC). State governments maintain victim compensation funds, and the quantum varies by state scheme and the severity of loss. Details and forms are available at DLSA offices or via https://nalsa.gov.in.
Private negotiation is rarely advisable but possible. If the fraudster contacts you fearing arrest, involve police immediately. Do not meet alone or transfer more money as 'settlement.'
Engage a lawyer if your loss exceeds ₹50,000. Lawyer fees range ₹10,000-₹1 lakh depending on case complexity. Some lawyers work on contingency (percentage of recovery). Check credentials via your State Bar Council website.
Multiple agencies handle lottery fraud, each with specific mandates:
1. National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (Ministry of Home Affairs) https://cybercrime.gov.in Primary platform for online fraud complaints. Forwards to state Cyber Crime Cells. Helpline: 1930.
2. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) https://cybercrime.gov.in (same portal as above) Coordinates inter-state and international cybercrime investigations. Maintains the Citizen Financial Cyber Frauds Reporting and Management System.
3. Reserve Bank of India – Complaint Management System https://cms.rbi.org.in For complaints against banks that delayed freezing fraudster accounts or failed to refund.
4. National Consumer Helpline https://consumerhelpline.gov.in Toll-free: 1915 Register consumer complaints; they forward to the concerned company or government department.
5. Banking Ombudsman Scheme (RBI) https://cms.rbi.org.in (Ombudsman option) For disputes with banks regarding fraudulent transactions. Each state has a designated Ombudsman.
6. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) https://www.trai.gov.in/consumer-info/consumer-complaints Report fraudulent calls/SMS. TRAI can direct telecom companies to block numbers under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations 2018.
Citizen tip — TRAI's DND (Do Not Disturb) 2.0 app allows you to report fraud SMS/calls directly. Download from Play Store/App Store. Reporting helps block numbers across all operators.
7. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution https://consumeraffairs.nic.in For complaints under Prize Chits Act 1978 and broader consumer protection issues.
8. Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) https://fiuindia.gov.in Reports suspicious transactions, especially cryptocurrency and hawala-related frauds.
9. Enforcement Directorate (ED) https://enforcementdirectorate.gov.in Handles money laundering cases under PMLA. Lodge complaints if fraud exceeds ₹1 crore or involves international transfers.
10. State Cyber Crime Cells Each state has a dedicated cell. For example: - Maharashtra: https://cybercrime.mahapolicecops.in - Delhi: https://cybercrime.delhipolice.gov.in - Karnataka: https://ksp.karnataka.gov.in/page/Cyber+Crime/en Check your state police website.
Bookmark these URLs and save helpline numbers. Cross-report to at least three agencies for maximum pressure and faster response.
Indian courts have laid down principles on cheating and on the criminal-justice system's duty to victims that are useful to anyone fighting a lottery fraud.
In Hridaya Ranjan Prasad Verma v. State of Bihar (2000) 4 SCC 168, the Supreme Court explained the essence of cheating: there must be a fraudulent or dishonest intention on the part of the accused at the very inception of the transaction. A mere failure to keep a promise later is not, by itself, cheating. In a lottery scam this is easy to show, because the “prize” never existed and the deception was present from the first message — exactly the dishonest intent at the outset that this judgment requires.
In State of Gujarat v. Kishanbhai (2014) 5 SCC 108, the Supreme Court treated every wrongful acquittal as a failure of the justice-delivery system and directed that responsibility be fixed on investigating officers and prosecutors whose lapses cause cases to collapse. For a victim, the practical takeaway is to insist on a properly recorded FIR, complete evidence, and a diligent investigation, since careless investigation is a recognised cause of acquittals.
On evidence, electronic records such as screenshots, emails, call logs, and transaction statements are admissible in Indian courts. The certificate regime for electronic evidence that earlier sat in Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act 1872 now appears in Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, which replaced the Evidence Act with effect from 1 July 2024. With the prescribed certificate, you generally do not need to produce the original device — properly certified printouts or copies are accepted.
Cite the relevant principles in your complaints, consumer forum petitions, and RTI applications. Police and judges take complaints more seriously when the legal basis is stated clearly.
Below are three templates. Adapt dates, names, and amounts to your situation.
Sample FIR / Written Complaint:
To, The Station House Officer, [Police Station Name], [City, PIN] Subject: FIR for Cheating and Forgery under BNS 2024 Sections 318(4), 319, 336 Sir/Madam, I, [Your Full Name], aged [XX] years, residing at [Full Address], mobile [Your Number], hereby lodge a complaint against unknown persons for cheating me through a fake lottery scam. FACTS: 1. On [Date], I received a WhatsApp message from number +91-XXXXXXXXXX claiming I won ₹25,00,000 in the "KBC Lottery 2026." 2. The message contained a fake ticket number [XXXXXXXX] and instructed me to contact Mr. [Fraudster Name] at +91-YYYYYYYYYY. 3. On [Date], I called the number. The person claimed to be a lottery coordinator and demanded ₹50,000 as 'GST and processing fee.' 4. Believing it genuine, I transferred ₹50,000 to bank account [Account Number], IFSC [Code], [Bank Name] via UPI transaction ID [XXXXXXXXXXXX] on [Date, Time]. 5. Subsequently, they demanded ₹37,000 more for 'legal documentation,' which I paid on [Date] via UPI ID [fraudster@paytm]. 6. When I requested the prize, they stopped responding. I searched online and realized it is a scam. EVIDENCE ATTACHED: - Screenshots of WhatsApp messages (Annexure A) - Bank statements showing transactions (Annexure B) - Call recording (Annexure C, CD) OFFENSES COMMITTED: - Section 318(4) BNS 2024: Cheating and inducing delivery of property - Section 319 BNS 2024: Cheating by personation - Section 336 and 338 BNS 2024: Forgery and use of forged documents - Section 66D IT Act 2000: Cheating by personation using computer resource PRAYER: I request you to: 1. Register FIR under the above sections 2. Freeze bank account [fraudster's account number] under BNSS Sec 106 3. Issue lookout notice against accused if absconding 4. Investigate and recover my money I am available for any further information. Yours faithfully, [Your Signature] [Your Name] Date: [Date]
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Sample Legal Notice (to fraudster, if name/address known):
LEGAL NOTICE UNDER SECTION 318 BNS 2024 To, [Fraudster Name / Unknown Persons operating mobile +91-XXXXXXXXXX and bank account XXXX-XXXX-XXXX] [Address, if known] THROUGH REGISTERED POST A.D. Dear Sir/Madam, SUBJECT: Demand for refund of ₹87,000 obtained by fraud and cheating I, [Your Name], resident of [Address], through my advocate, serve you this legal notice: 1. On [Dates], you contacted me through WhatsApp/phone claiming I won ₹25 lakh in a lottery. 2. By fraudulent misrepresentation, you induced me to pay ₹87,000 as 'processing fees.' 3. You used forged government logos and fake identity, violating BNS 2024 Sections 318(4), 319, 336. 4. I have filed FIR No. [XXX/2026] at [Police Station]. The matter is under investigation. DEMAND: You are hereby called upon to refund ₹87,000 plus interest @12% p.a. from [Date] within 15 days of this notice, failing which: - Civil suit for recovery under Order XXXVII CPC - Criminal prosecution under BNS 2024 - Consumer complaint under CPA 2019 - Complaint to Enforcement Directorate under PMLA 2002 This notice is without prejudice to my rights and remedies. Date: [Date] Place: [City] [Your Advocate's Name] Advocate [Enrollment No.] [Address]
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Sample RTI Application (to State Cyber Crime Cell):
To, The Public Information Officer, State Cyber Crime Cell, [State Police HQ Address] Subject: RTI application under Section 6(1) of RTI Act 2005 Sir/Madam, I am a citizen of India residing at [Address]. I seek the following information regarding my cybercrime complaint: 1. Status of my complaint filed on https://cybercrime.gov.in, Acknowledgment No. [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX], dated [Date]. 2. Name, rank, and contact details of the Investigating Officer assigned. 3. Details of accused persons identified (names, addresses, mobile numbers, bank accounts). 4. Amount of money recovered, if any, and timeline for refund to victim. 5. Copy of FIR registered (if any) based on my complaint. 6. Action taken to freeze bank account [fraudster account number] and response from the concerned bank. 7. If investigation is pending, reasons for delay and expected completion date. 8. Details of any similar complaints registered against the same mobile number/bank account in the past 12 months. I am willing to pay the prescribed fee. Please provide information within 30 days as mandated under Section 7(1) of RTI Act 2005. If information pertains to another public authority, kindly transfer under Section 6(3). Contact: [Your Mobile], [Your Email] Yours faithfully, [Your Name] Date: [Date]
Use the RTI Assistant at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/rti-assistant for customized RTI applications. For checking PIO responses, use the PIO Reply Checker at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker.
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| “I cannot file FIR if I don't know the fraudster's name or address.” | Section 173 BNSS 2024 allows FIR against 'unknown persons.' Police will investigate using mobile numbers, bank accounts, and UPI IDs. Many cases succeed even without knowing fraudster identity initially. |
| “Once money is transferred via UPI, it cannot be recovered.” | If reported quickly, banks can put a hold on the recipient account under BNSS Sec 106 while the money is still there. Recovery chances are much higher when you report within the first few hours; delay reduces the chances but does not always eliminate them. |
| “Police will not take my complaint seriously for small amounts like ₹10,000.” | Cheating is a cognizable offense regardless of amount. Under Section 173 BNSS 2024, police must register FIR. If refused, escalate to SP or file online at cybercrime.gov.in. Courts have reprimanded police for ignoring 'small' frauds. |
| “I need a lawyer to file consumer complaint.” | Consumer Protection Act 2019 allows self-representation. Forms are simple, available on https://edaakhil.nic.in. Legal aid is available free via District Legal Services Authority for those earning below ₹5 lakh annually. |
| “Government agencies like RBI and cybercrime.gov.in never respond.” | The cybercrime portal issues an acknowledgment number on every complaint, which you can use to follow up. If you get no response, use the RTI Act 2005 to ask for the status, escalate to senior officers, or approach the consumer courts and the High Court (writ petition). |
| “Fraudsters operate from abroad; Indian police cannot do anything.” | Many scams operate from within India using foreign-looking numbers via VoIP. For genuinely foreign operations, the Enforcement Directorate and I4C coordinate through Interpol and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties, under which India cooperates with a number of countries including the UAE, UK and USA. |
Most citizens miss this — Believing myths leads to non-reporting, which emboldens fraudsters. Every report, even if individual recovery fails, contributes to larger investigations and crackdowns.
Yes. If you received a fraudulent message or call but did not pay, you should still report it to cybercrime.gov.in. Your report helps authorities identify and shut down scam operations before others are victimized. An attempt to cheat is itself an offence under the cheating provisions of the BNS 2024, so reporting is worthwhile even when no money was lost.