Money gone to an online scam? The first hour matters most

You've realised the money's gone — a fake link, a caller who sounded official, a "refund" that took instead of gave. The first feeling is usually a wave of shame, and that shame is exactly what makes people freeze and wait. Don't wait. With online fraud, the sooner you act, the better the chance the money is stopped before it moves on.

Do these first, now

1. Call 1930 — the national cyber-crime helpline. Reporting fast can get the transaction frozen before the money is withdrawn at the other end. This is the single most useful thing you can do in the first hour.
2. Report at cybercrime.gov.in — the official portal for online financial fraud. Keep the complaint number it gives you.
3. Tell your bank immediately and ask them to freeze or flag the transaction. The quicker they act, the better the odds.
4. Save everything — screenshots, the number that called, the transaction reference, the message or link. It all helps the case.

What not to do

Don't call any "help number" the scammer or the same website gives you — that's often the same trap a second time. Use only 1930 and the official portal above.

When it's more than a report

Most online-fraud recovery runs through the helpline, the portal and your bank — no lawyer needed to start. If the amount is large or it turns into a longer dispute, that's when legal help is worth it.

Not sure if what happened counts as fraud, or what to do next? Tell Miss Lucy Lite what happened — she'll walk you through the right steps calmly, without the panic.