Where to Report Cyber Fraud: Portals, Helplines, and e-Zero FIR: An Illustrative Scenario in Chennai

The situation below is a composite illustration, not an account of an actual client matter, and is used here only to show how the law applies to a common set of facts.

The illustrative scenario

The question

The natural question that follows is:

How the general rule applies

The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and the helpline 1930 remain the current national channels for reporting cyber fraud.

An e-Zero FIR mechanism automatically converts certain NCRP/1930 complaints above ₹10 lakh into a registered FIR; piloted in Delhi from May 2025, it was running in 19 states by August 2026.

As a general rule, the MHA's grievance redress mechanism (GRM) and money-restoration mechanism (MRM) portals went live in June 2026 as part of the response to the digital arrest scam litigation.

The national cyber crime helpline is 1930. You can also file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

What often gets missed in situations like this

• Reporting only on social media or to the bank's helpline without also filing on cybercrime.gov.in — the national portal is what triggers formal tracking and, for larger amounts, e-Zero FIR.
• Not noting whether your state has adopted e-Zero FIR — availability has expanded but was not universal as of mid-2026.

Where this scenario is set (Chennai)

• The High Court with jurisdiction is the Madras High Court.
• Matters at the district level are generally handled at the Chennai City Civil Court or Small Causes Court.
• The relevant police authority is the Greater Chennai Police.
• Cyber complaints in the area are generally routed through the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing (TN-S4C).

As noted above, this scenario is a constructed illustration used to explain the general rule — it does not describe a real client, case, or outcome.

For the general rules, see Where to Report Cyber Fraud: Portals, Helplines, and e-Zero FIR, Digital Arrest Scams: How They Work and What the Supreme Court Has Directed, Bank Account Freezes in Cyber Fraud Cases: An Unsettled Area, and Reporting Cyber Fraud: Timelines and Your Liability.

Where this applies to a live matter, it is usually worth discussing it in a consultation before acting.

This page is general information about the law in India and is not legal advice. The position can vary with the facts, so it is worth getting advice on your specific situation.