Online fraud, hacking, identity theft, bullying, non-consensual sharing of images – all of these fall under cybercrime and are taken increasingly seriously by law enforcement.
If you’re a victim, the basic steps are:
- Collect evidence: screenshots, transaction IDs, emails, chat logs, URLs, phone numbers. Don’t just delete out of anger.
- Lodge a complaint with the local cybercrime police station or online cyber portal if available in your country. In many places, you can file a complaint from anywhere because cyber offences often cross locations.
- Inform your bank or payment provider immediately in financial frauds so they can freeze or flag transactions.
- In serious harassment or threat cases, seek urgent protection orders or blocking of content.
Police may register an FIR or a preliminary report depending on the offence. They can ask platforms for logs, IP addresses, and account details. However, cross-border investigations can still be slow.
It’s important not to fall for “private recovery agents” who promise to get your money back for a fee – many of them are scammers themselves. Use official channels, and if the case is big or complex, consult a lawyer who understands cyber laws.
Most importantly, don’t blame yourself. Cybercriminals are professionals; the law is slowly catching up with them, and your complaint helps build that system.
