Act now, not tomorrow. Call 1930 (the national cyber fraud helpline), then report at cybercrime.gov.in, then call the bank's official number to freeze the account and the transfer. Keep every screenshot and transaction ID. Then look after your parent: shame keeps many victims silent.
Step 1: Call 1930 immediately
1930 connects to the cyber fraud reporting system that can alert banks to hold the money. You can call on your parent's behalf. Have ready: the amount, the time, the bank account or UPI ID it went to, and the transaction ID.
Step 2: Report at cybercrime.gov.in
File a complaint online and note the acknowledgement number. You'll need it for the bank and the police.
Step 3: Call the bank
- Use the number on the back of the card or in the passbook, not one from a search result.
- Ask them to block cards, freeze the account and raise a fraud dispute for the transfer.
- Change net banking and UPI PINs once the phone is safe.
Step 4: Keep the evidence
- Screenshots of the chat, video call and call log.
- The phone numbers, UPI IDs and account numbers used.
- Bank SMS messages and the transaction IDs.
Step 5: Beware the second scam
After a fraud, victims often get calls from people who say they can recover the money for a fee, or who pretend to be from the police or a bank. Nobody legitimate asks for a fee to recover money.
Step 6: Look after your parent
Many elders feel ashamed and hide what happened. Tell them it's not their fault: these are organised gangs who do this all day. Kerala lost ₹814 crore to cyber fraud in 2025, from people of every age and background. Stay close, call more often for a while, and make sure they aren't alone with the phone if the scammers call again.
Quick reporting does make a difference. In March 2026, Kochi Cyber Police recovered ₹1.06 crore for an 81-year-old doctor because the complaint was filed fast.
Written by the RingThru team and checked against the official sources linked below. This guide is not legal or medical advice.