How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint
Cyber crime is booming in the country with the increase use of internet and more cyber activities. The cases of online cheating and fraud and other cyber crimes have increased many folds. It is very difficult for a cyber-crime victim to understand the steps to register a cyber-crime FIR.
ð ‘Digital India’ and ‘Cyber Crime’
The vision of the Government of India to make India digital, the vision of the Government of India to improve the efficiency of working in various aspects of life, ‘Demonetization and introduction of GST has played a vital role. The cheaper data, affordable mobiles and computer devices has made the country more cyber crime prone.
The result of this has unrestrained growth in data theft complaints, online cheating cases, online financial frauds and much more. There is hardly any person left who is not effected with the need of internet. This calls for all the more reason to know how to file a cyber crime complaint in India?
This makes it more understandable that every 5-8 minutes a cyber crime is reported in the country.
ð Cyber Crimes against Women, Children and elderly people are on the Rise
Women, children and elderly people have been found to be most naive in the online world with cyber crimes against women, children and elderly persons is witnessing a sharp rise over the last few years. Women are often subjected to cyber crimes such as cyber harassment, online stalking, cyber pornography, cyber defamation, matrimonial frauds and much more.
Children are also soft targets for cyber criminals as most teenagers and youths manage their online presence without adult guidance. It is hard to get over the spate of deaths of innocent teenagers resulting from the online suicidal game – Blue Whale. In fact, as parents, if you observe restlessness, insomnia, excess addiction to the internet or other unnatural changes in your child’s behavior, then it is about time that you exercise caution and monitor your child’s online activities.
The elderly people who are not much comfortable with the technologies are also a regular targets of the new age cyber criminals.
Apart from these, online financial frauds have also become an everyday occurrence. Each day, thousands of innocent individuals fall prey to online banking and credit/debit card frauds.
ð Filing a Cyber Crime Complaint
In the event of a cyber crime, the following section shall tell you how to file a cyber crime complaint in India in few simple steps.
1. The very first step to file a cyber crime complaint is to register a written complaint with the cyber crime cell of the city are currently in. The links of the same are provided at the end of the report. According to the Information Technology Act, a cyber crime comes under the purview of global jurisdiction. This means that a cyber crime complaint can be registered with any of the cyber cells in India, irrespective of the place where it was originally committed.
2. While filing the complaint for cyber crime, one need to provide your name, contact details, and address for mailing. One need to address the written complaint to the Head of the Cyber Crime Cell of the city where you are filing the cyber crime complaint.
3. In case one is victim of online harassment, a legal counsel can be approached to assist for reporting it to the police station. Additionally, one could be asked to provide certain documents with the complaint.
4. Register a Cyber Crime FIR: If one does not have access to any of the cyber cells in India, one can file a First Information Report (FIR) at the police station of that area. In case the complaint is not accepted, one can approach the Superintendent of police/ Commissioner or the city’s Judicial Magistrate.
5. Some of the cyber crime offenses falls under the Indian Penal Code and FIR can register as cyber crime FIR at the nearest local police station to report them. As per the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, it is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for every police officer to record the information/complaint of an offense, irrespective of the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed.
6. Most of the cyber crimes that are covered under the Indian Penal Code are classified as cognizable offenses. A cognizable offense is the one in which a warrant is not required for an arrest or investigation. In this case, a police officer is bound to record a Zero FIR from the complainant. He must then forward it to the police station under the jurisdiction of the place where the offense was committed.
ð Complaints mechanism Related to Social Media Cyber Crimes:
1. Other than the above steps, one must also register a complaint on the corresponding platform where the offense was committed. The steps for the same are clearly stated on every social media platform.
2. Most of the social media platforms have a clear procedure in place for reporting any abuse or other nasty offenses. You must make sure that you report such activities in the very initial stages of its occurrence. This shall enable the concerned social media platform to take immediate steps for blocking further activities and protecting the privacy of your personal information.
3. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube have a strict and clear redressal mechanism to protect its users from online abuse and cyber crimes. Make sure that you do your groundwork on their guidelines for reporting an abuse without waiting for an abuse to actually happen!
ð Online Cyber Crime Complaint
Following are the links to file a cyber crime complaint in India through an online portal:
1. http://www.cybercelldelhi.in/
2. http://www.indorepolice.org/cyber-crime.php
ð Documents Required to File a Cyber Crime Complaint
Ø Complaints for emails
· A written brief about the offense stating every detail of the offence
· A copy of the suspected email as received by the original receiver
· The complete header of the suspected email showing the details of the sender
· Hard and soft copies of the alleged email and its header
· CD-R providing the email.
Ø Complaints for Social Media
· A copy or screenshot showing the alleged profile/content
· A screenshot of the URL of the alleged content
· Hard and soft copies of the alleged content
· Ensure that the soft copy is provided in a CD-R
Ø Complaints for Mobile Application
· A screenshot of the alleged app and the location from where it was downloaded
· The victim’s bank statements in case any transactions were made after the incident
· Soft copies of all the aforesaid documents
Ø Complaints for Business Email
· A written brief about the offense
· Originating name and location
· Originating bank name and account number
· Recipient’s name (as in bank records)
· Recipient’s bank account number
· Recipient’s bank location (not mandatory)
· Date and amount of transaction
· SWIFT number
Ø Complaints for Data Theft
· A copy of the stolen data
· The copyright certificate of the allegedly stolen data
· Details of the suspected employee(s)
· The following documents are required in relation to the suspected employee(s):
a. Letter of Appointment
b. Non-disclosure Agreement
c. Assigned list of duty
d. List of clients that the suspect handles
· The proof of breach of your copyright data
· Devices used by the accused during his/her term of service (only if available)
Ø Complaints for Ransomware/Malware
· The email ID, phone number or evidence of any other means of communication through which the demand for ransom was made
· In case the malware was sent as an email attachment, screenshots of the email with the complete header of the first receiver
Ø Complaints for Internet Banking/Online Transactions/Lottery Scam/Fake Call Related
· Bank statements of the concerned bank for the last six months
· A copy of the SMSs received related to the suspected transactions
· Copy of the victim’s ID and address proof as in bank records
Ø Complaints for Bitcoin
· A written brief about the offense
· The address of the bitcoin
· The amount of bitcoin in question
· The address from/to whom the purchase/sale of the bitcoins have been done
Ø Complaints for Online Cheating
· A print out of the alleged email with its complete header as received by the original receiver (forwarded emails should be avoided)
· Victim’s bank statement
· Details of the suspected transactions
· Soft copies of all the aforesaid documents
List of Cyber Cells in India
Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam City Cyber Cell
Website: http://vizagcitypolice.gov.in/CyberCrimes.html
Address: CCS building in the premises of II Town Police Station,
Dabagardens, Visakhapatnam City – 530020
Contact: Inspector of Police – 9490617917; Sub-Inspector of Police – 9490617916.
Email ID: inspr_cybercrime@vspc.appolice.gov.in, cybercrimesps@cid.appolice.gov.in, cidap@cidap.gov.in
Assam
Cyber Cell in Guwahati
Website: https://police.assam.gov.in
Asstt. Inspector General of Police (R)
Address: Assam Police Headquarters, Ulubari, Guwahati – 781007
Contact: 9435111234, (0361) 2453308
Email ID: aigp-r@assampolice.gov.in
Chandigarh State Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://chandigarhpolice.gov.in
Contact: (172) 2710046/2700028 – DSP/Cyber Crime Cell & IT
Email ID: cybercrime-chd@nic.in
Dadra and Nagar Haveli Police Department
Website: http://dnhpolice.gov.in/
Address: Office of the Superintendent of Police, Police Head Quarters, U.T. of DNH, Silvassa – 396230
Contact: (0260) 2643022
Email ID: sp-sil-dnh@nic.in
Gujarat Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.police.gujarat.gov.in
Address: First floor, Police Bhavan, Sector 18, Gandhinagar
Contact: (079) 23246330/23254344
Email ID: dgp-scr@gujarat.gov.in, cc-cid@gujarat.gov.in, Dcp-crime-ahd@gujarat.gov.in
Karnataka
Bangalore Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.cyberpolicebangalore.nic.in/
Address: Cyber Crime Police Station, CID Annexe Building, Carlton House, # 1, Palace Road, Bangalore – 560001
Contact: 8022094498
Email ID: cybercrimepscomplaint@gmail.com
Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Cyber Cell Headquarters
Website: http://arunpol.nic.in
Address: Police Headquarter (PHQ), Chandranagar, Itanagar – 791111
Contact: (0360) 2218190
Email ID: cc-polita-arn@nic.in, arpolice@rediffmail.com
Goa Cyber Crime Cell
Website: https://www.goapolice.gov.in
Contact: (0832) 2443201, 7875756171
Email ID: picyber@goapolice.gov.in
Haryana State Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://gurgaon.haryanapolice.gov.in/cyber-cell.htm
Address: Commissioner of Police Office, Sohna Road, Near Rajiv Chowk, Gurugram
Himachal Pradesh Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://citizenportal.hppolice.gov.in:8080/citizen/login.htm
Contact: (0177) 2621714 (191)
Email ID: sp-cybercr-hp@nic.in
Jammu and Kashmir
Police Department of Jammu and Kashmir
Website: http://www.jkpolice.gov.in
Address: Police Headquarter, Airport Road, Peer Bagh, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – 190001; Police Headquarter, Gulshan Ground, Gandhinagar, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir -180001
Email ID: igcrime-jk@nic.in, digcrime-jk@nic.in, sspcrmjmu-jk@nic.in
Jharkhand Cyber Crime Department
Website: https://www.jhpolice.gov.in/
Address: Cyber Crime Police Station, Kutchery Chowk, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Contact: (0651) 2220060, 9771432133
Email ID: cyberps@jhpolice.gov.in
Madhya Pradesh Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.indorepolice.org/cyber-crime.php
Contact: 7049124444
Email ID: adg_scrb@mppolice.gov.in, ig_scrb@mppolice.gov.in, web_scrb@mppolice.gov.in
Maharastra
Mumbai Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://cybercellmumbai.gov.in/
Address: Cyber Crime Investigation Cell, EOW, Third floor, New CP Office Building CP Office Premises, D.N.Road, Near Crowford Market, Mumbai – 400001
Contact: (022) 22626520
Email ID: cybercell.mumbai@mahapolice.gov.in
Ahmednagar Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://ahmednagarpolice.org/wp/
Contact: (0241) 2416101
Email ID: sp.ahmednagar@mahapolice.gov.in
Jalgaon Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://jalgaonpolice.gov.in/
Contact: (0257) 2220411
Email ID: sp.jalgaon@mahapolice.gov.in
Meghalaya Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://megpolice.gov.in/
Address: Office of the Additional Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Meghalaya, Shillong-793001
Contact: (0364) 2504001 – Cyber Crime Wing, (0364) 2504001 – Cyber Assistant Cell
Mizoram Cyber Cell
Website: https://cidcrime.mizoram.gov.in
Address: Criminal Investigation Department, Crime CID Complex, Aizawl – 796001, Mizoram
Contact: (0389) 2334082
Email ID: cidcrime-mz@nic.in
Nagaland Police Headquarters
Website: http://nagapol.gov.in/
Address: Nagaland Police Headquarters, P. R. Hill, Kohima – 797001, Nagaland
Contact: (0370) 2243711/2243713
Email ID: scrb-ngl@nic.in/scrbpnaga@yahoo.com
New Delhi Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://cybercelldelhi.in/Districtcybercell.html
Email ID: Speou9del@cbi.gov.in
Delhi – East Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Room No. 11, DCP Office, IP Extension Mandawali, Fazalpur, New Delhi – 110092
Contact: (011) 22232116
Email ID: acp-diu-east-dl@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – North East Cyber Crime Cell
Address: IIIrd Floor, DCP Office, Seelampur, New Delhi- 110053
Contact: (011) 22829503/22829504
Email ID: cybercell.ned@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – South Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Room No. – 107, Ist Floor, PS Saket, New Delhi – 110017
Contact: (011) 29561004
Email ID: cybercell.south@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – South East Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Room No. 114 & 124, Ist Floor, PS C.R Park Complex, New Delhi – 110087
Contact: (011) 26270304
Email ID: cybercell.sed@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – South West Cyber Crime Cell
Address: DCP Office Complex, Sec. – 19, Dwarka, New Delhi – 110075
Contact: (011) 28084059
Email ID: acpdiu-swd-dl@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – West Cyber Crime Cell
Address: IInd Floor, PS Hari Nagar, New Delhi – 110064
Contact: (011) 25123432
Delhi – Outer Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Cyber Cell, Kanjhawala Road, Near Marble Market, Mangolpuri, New Delhi – 110083
Contact: (011) 27911006
Email ID: acp-ops-outer-dl@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – Central Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Old Building, PS Kamla Market, New Delhi – 110002
Contact: (011) 232100885
Email ID: cybercell-central@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – North Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Behind Daulat Ram College, Delhi University North Campus, Maurice Nagar, New Delhi – 110007
Contact: (011) 27662875
Delhi – North West Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Cyber Cell, AU-Block, Pitampura, New Delhi – 110088
Contact: (011) 27344606
Email ID: acp-ops-northwest-dl@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – Shahdara Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Old DCP Office, GTB Enclave, IInd Floor, Room No. 307, Near Jhilmil Metro Station, Dilshad Garden, New Delhi-110095
Contact: (011) 22304001
Email ID: cybercell-shahdara@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – Rohini Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Room No. 303, Rohini District line, Begampur, New Delhi – 110086
Contact: (011) 27061702
Email ID: dcp-rohini-dl@delhipolice.gov.in
Delhi – New Delhi Cyber Crime Cell
Address: Room No. 206, PS Mandir Marg, New Delhi – 110001
Contact: (011) 23746694
Email ID: dcp-newdelhi-dl@nic.in
Odisha Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://odishapolicecidcb.gov.in
Address: Cyber Crime Police Station, Criminal Investigation Department, Crime Branch, Odisha, Cuttack
Contact: (0671) 2305485
Email ID: cyberps.cidcb.orpol@nic.in
Rajasthan Police Department
Website: http://police.rajasthan.gov.in
Sikkim Police Headquarter
Website: http://sikkimpolice.nic.in
Address: State Police Headquarters, NH 10, Gangtok-737101, Sikkim
Contact: (03592) 203478
Email ID: igpcom@sikkimpolice.nic.in
Tamilnadu
Chennai Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.tnpolice.gov.in
Address: Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police, No. 132, Commissioner Office Building, EVK Sampath Road, Vepery, Chennai – 600007
Contact: (044) 28512527
Email ID: spcybercbcid.tnpol@nic.in, cbcyber@tn.nic.in
Telangana Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.cyberabadpolice.gov.in/know-your-police-station/cyber-crimes.html
Asst. Commissioner of Police (SHO)
Contact: 9490617228, (040) 27854031
Email ID: sho_cybercrimes@cyb.tspolice.gov.in
Commissioner Office
Contact: 9490617200
Control Room
Contact: 9490617100
Hyderabad Cyber Crime Department
Website: http://www.hyderabadpolice.gov.in/Cybercrimes.html
The Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad
Address: Opposite Telangana Tourism Office, Central Crime Station (CCS), Hyderabad
Contact: 040-27852412
Email ID: contact@hyd.tspolice.gov.in
Tripura Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.tripurapolice.gov.in
Address: SP CID, A.D. Nagar, Agartala, Tripura West – 7899 003
Contact: (0381) 2376963/2376979
Email ID: Spcid-tri@nic.in
Puducherry Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://police.puducherry.gov.in/
Email ID: cyberps.py@gov.in
Punjab Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://punjabpolice.gov.in, http://www.sasnagarpolice.in
Address: Cyber Crime Investigation Cell, Phase-4, S.A.S Nagar, Mohali
Contact: (0712) 2220042
Kerala Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.keralapolice.org/contacts/helpline/cyber-cell
Hitech Cell PHQ
Contact: (0471) 2721547
Email ID: hitechcell.pol@kerala.gov.in
Cyber Police Station (TVM)
Contact: (0471) 2322090
Email ID: cyberps.pol@kerala.gov.in
Thiruvananthapuram City
Contact: (0471) 2329107
Email ID: cbrceltvm.pol@kerala.gov.in
Thiruvananthapuram Rural
Contact: (0471) 2303066
Email ID: cybceltvmrl.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kollam City
Contact: (0474) 2744165
Email ID: cbrcelklm.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kollam Rural
Contact: (0474) 2450180
Email ID: cybcelklmrl.pol@kerala.gov.in
Pathanamthitta
Contact: (0468) 2327914
Email ID: cbrcelpta.pol@kerala.gov.in
Alappuzha
Contact: (0477) 2230804
Email ID: cybrcelalpy.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kottayam
Contact: (0481) 2561304
Email ID: cbrcelktm.pol@kerala.gov.in
Idukki
Contact: (0486) 2232354
Email ID: cbrcelidk.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kochi City
Contact: (0484) 4019664
Email ID: cbrcelekm.pol@kerala.gov.in
Eranakulam Rural
Contact: (0484) 2630238
Email ID: cybcelekmrl.pol@kerala.gov.in
Thrissur City
Contact: 9497962836
Email ID: cbrceltsr.pol@kerala.gov.in
Thrissur Rural
Contact: 9497976006
Email ID: cybceltsrrl.pol@kerala.gov.in
Palakkad
Contact: 9497976007 , 9497976037 , 9497976038
Email ID: cbrcelpkd.pol@kerala.gov.in
Malappuram
Contact: (0483) 2738660
Email ID: cbrcelmpm.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kozhikode City
Contact: (0495) 2720090
Email ID: cbrcelkkd.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kozhikkode Rural
Contact: (0496) 2523091
Email ID: cybcelkkdrl.pol@kerala.gov.in
Wayanad
Contact: (04936) 202525
Email ID: cbrcelwynd.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kannur
Contact: (0497) 2763332
Email ID: cbrcelknr.pol@kerala.gov.in
Kasaragode
Contact: (04994) 257800
Email ID: cbrcelksd.pol@kerala.gov.in
Uttar Pradesh Cyber Crime Cell
Website: https://uppolice.gov.in
Email ID: digcomplaint-up@nic.in, dgpcontrol-up@nic.in
Lucknow Cyber Crime Cell
Economic Offences Wing
Address: V-Floor, Indira Bhawan, Ashok Marg, Lucknow
Contact: (0522) 2287253
Email ID: eowhq@up.nic.in
Noida Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.cccinoida.org
Address: Centre for Cyber Crime Investigation, Plot No: B-110 A, Sector-6, Noida
Contact: (0120) 2422271, 8800165252
Uttarakhand Cyber Crime Cell
Website: https://uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in
Address: Cyber Crime Police Station, Near Fire Station, Gandhi Road, Dehradun – 248001
Contact: (0135) 2655900, 9456591502
Email ID: ccps.deh@uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in
West Bengal Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in
Address: 18, Lal Bazar St, Radha Bazar, Lal Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001
Contact: (033) 22143000
Kolkata Cyber Crime Cell
Criminal Investigation Department
Website: https://cidwestbengal.gov.in
Address: Bhabani Bhaban, 31 Belvedere Road, Alipore, Kolkata -700 027
Contact: (033) 24506100/24506174
Email ID: occomp.cid-wb@gov.in, cyberps@kolkatapolice.gov.in
Asansol Cyber Crime Cell
Website: http://asansoldurgapurpolice.in/
Address: Office of the Commissioner of Police Office, 5, Evelyn Lodge, G.T. Road, Kumarpur, Asansol-713304
Contact: (0341) 2319567
Email ID: adpccybercell@gmail.com