UPI fraud: what to do in the first 24 hours
Your best chance of recovering the money is in the first few hours. Follow these steps in this exact order.
Before anything else
File your complaint on the government portal at cybercrime.gov.in — it is free, and the acknowledgement number it gives you is needed at every stage that follows.
- 1
Report it within the hour
File at cybercrime.gov.in the moment you notice, and call your bank in parallel. The sooner a fraudulent transfer is reported, the higher the chance it can be frozen mid-transit. This window is often called the golden hour.
- 2
Ask your bank to freeze the account
Use the customer care number printed on your debit card or in your bank's official app. Never search for it on Google — fake support numbers are one of the most common second-stage scams. Report the transaction as unauthorised.
- 3
File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in
This is the Government of India's official portal. Choose the Financial Fraud category. Save the acknowledgement number — you will need it at every stage that follows.
- 4
Preserve every piece of evidence
Screenshot the SMS alerts, the transaction IDs, the UPI ID or phone number involved, and any chat history. Do not delete anything, even if it feels embarrassing.
- 5
Submit a written complaint to your bank
Under RBI's customer liability rules, reporting an unauthorised electronic transaction promptly limits your liability in most cases. Always collect a stamped acknowledgement of your written complaint.
- Never search Google for your bank's helpline number — fraudulent listings are everywhere
- Never share an OTP, CVV or UPI PIN; no bank will ever ask for them
- Never pay an agent who promises to recover your money — that is a second scam
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This guide is general information, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts — speak to an advocate about yours.