Report Scam Call Number 2026 - citizen guide

For the full background on how fraud callers operate, see fake customer care number scams and digital arrest scams.

The most common mistake is reporting to the wrong portal and then wondering why nothing happened. Here is the routing logic in brief:

If money moved through a scam call, use both Chakshu and 1930 - they address different angles: telecom misuse versus financial recovery.

Go to sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc. The portal accepts reports within the last 30 days of the suspected communication. After 30 days, your submission still helps pattern analysis but may not trigger action against that specific number.

Chakshu covers: impersonation of government officials such as police or regulators; bank account, payment wallet, SIM, or KYC update scams; investment or lottery fraud calls; sextortion; fake customer care numbers; and IVR or robocall fraud.

Steps:

1. Click “Citizen Centric Services” then “Chakshu - Report Suspected Fraud Communication”.
2. Choose the medium: call, SMS, or WhatsApp.
3. Select the fraud category and enter the suspected number, date, and time.
4. Upload screenshots of the communication (optional but helpful).
5. Verify with OTP and submit. You receive a confirmation that your report is registered.

Chakshu does not share individual case outcomes. Your report feeds a central system that DoT and telecom providers use to identify and disconnect fraud numbers.

Call 1930 the moment you realise money has moved. The helpline is available 24/7 and operated by I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The operator raises a ticket that alerts both your bank and the recipient bank to flag the fraudulent account. Report as soon as possible - the window for freezing funds depends on whether the money is still in the fraudster's account.

Have these ready when you call:

• Bank name and account number
• Transaction ID and exact amount
• Payment platform (UPI, NEFT, IMPS, etc.)
• Fraudster's phone number or UPI ID
• Date and time of the transaction

Also file at cybercrime.gov.in - click “File a Complaint” then “Report Financial Fraud”. You receive an acknowledgment number by SMS and email. Track progress at cybercrime.gov.in via “Track Your Complaint” - status moves through: Submitted, Assigned to Cyber Cell, Under Investigation, Resolved/Closed. For a detailed guide on what to do when a complaint stalls, see how to check cybercrime complaint status.

For promotional or marketing calls you did not ask for, use TRAI's DND system. Dial or SMS 1909 to register on the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR). If spam continues, file a complaint within 3 days of receiving it - via 1909, the TRAI DND app, or your telecom provider's app. Complaints older than 3 days are not actioned against the specific sender. For fraud calls posing as commercial callers, use Chakshu or 1930 instead.

Before filing on any route, take screenshots of: the call log (number, date, time), any SMS or WhatsApp messages, UPI payment confirmations or bank debit alerts, and any links or UPI IDs the caller sent. Write a short note of what was said and in what order. Do not delete call logs or messages until your complaint is registered and you have your acknowledgment number.

1. Ask your bank in writing whether a fraud hold or chargeback was initiated.
2. File an FIR with the local police cyber cell if the financial loss is significant.
3. Use an RTI application under the RTI Act, 2005 to ask the relevant public authority (Ministry of Home Affairs, or state police cyber cell) for the status of your complaint and the action recorded. Use your acknowledgment number as the reference. See The RTI Playbook for guidance on filing.
4. For scams using fake AI voices or deepfakes, see AI voice scam recovery for additional steps.

No. All three reporting channels are free. Chakshu on Sanchar Saathi, the 1930 helpline, and cybercrime.gov.in charge nothing to file a complaint. There is no fee to register for DND on 1909 either.

Call as soon as you realise fraud has occurred. The helpline connects to banks to request account freezes, and the chance of success depends on whether the money is still in the fraudster's account. Do not wait for bank confirmation or to gather all evidence first - call with whatever details you have and follow up with documentation after.

Yes. Chakshu accepts reports of suspected fraud communication received via call, SMS, or WhatsApp. When you go to sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc, you can select WhatsApp as the medium and upload screenshots of the conversation.

There is a grace period of 7 days after DND registration before the block takes effect. If spam continues after that, file a UCC complaint within 3 days of receiving the call. Call or SMS 1909, or use the TRAI DND app, and provide the sender's number, date, and time.

Report to Chakshu and to cybercrime.gov.in regardless - the portals accept reports on international numbers. If money moved internationally, tell the 1930 operator explicitly so the ticket can be escalated to the right authorities.

Yes. If your complaint at cybercrime.gov.in has not been updated for an unreasonable time, you can file an RTI application to the Ministry of Home Affairs (or the relevant state police cyber cell, which is the public authority handling the investigation) asking for the status of your complaint and the action taken. Use your complaint acknowledgment number as the reference. The process is governed under the RTI Act, 2005.

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