I Just Got Scammed — What Do I Do Right Now?
TL;DR: If you've just realized you were scammed: call 1930 right now, or file at cybercrime.gov.in. Do this before reading anything else — every minute affects whether the money can still be frozen. Once that call is made, come back here for what to do next.
👉 See if your data's already leaked — free 30-second check →
You don't need to have this figured out. You just need to do the next right thing, in order. Here it is.
Right now: call 1930
If money moved — UPI, bank transfer, any of it — call 1930, India's national cybercrime helpline, immediately. This is the single action that can still freeze the money before it's withdrawn. You can also file at cybercrime.gov.in, but the phone call is faster in the moment.
Tell them: what happened, how much, when, and any transaction ID or UPI reference you have. You'll get an SMS acknowledgment number — save it.
Not sure exactly why this matters or want the full mechanics? See The First Hour After Sending Money to a Scammer once the call is done — read it after, not instead of, calling.
If no money moved, but something feels wrong
Maybe you shared a document, gave someone remote access, or just hung up from a call that felt off. You can still report it, and you should — these scams get reused against other people. File at cybercrime.gov.in with what you remember, even without a financial loss.
Next: figure out what kind of scam this was
The right next step depends on specifics. Pick what matches:
- Sent money via UPI → UPI Fraud Recovery
- Just got off a "digital arrest" call → What to Do After the Call Ends
- Shared your Aadhaar or PAN → Aadhaar/PAN Lockdown Steps
- Lost access to WhatsApp or a social account → Account Recovery
- Scammed on a matrimonial site → Matrimonial Scam Recovery
- Paid a fake job fee → Job Scam Recovery
- Fake investment or trading app → Investment Scam Recovery
- Your number is being used to scam others → SIM Clone Aftermath
Every situation and step, in one place: the complete India recovery guide.
Then: lock down your accounts
Change passwords on email and banking first, turn on two-factor authentication (here's how 2FA works), and check whether anything else you shared is now at risk.
And when you're ready: the part nobody talks about
It's completely normal to feel shaken, angry, or embarrassed right now. That reaction doesn't mean you did anything wrong — these scripts are refined against thousands of people. When you're ready, this covers that part, whenever you get to it.
Once things are stable, it's worth understanding what made you a target in the first place — often a detail from a data leak that made the scammer sound credible. A Scan My Shadow report shows what's actually out there tied to your phone number and email.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the very first thing I should do if I just got scammed?
Call 1930 immediately if any money moved — this is India's national cybercrime helpline and it can trigger a fund-freeze request while the money may still be traceable.
What if I don't have all the transaction details ready?
Call anyway. Give the operator whatever you have — the amount, roughly when it happened, and any reference number — and they'll guide you through the rest.
I'm too embarrassed to call — can I just file online instead?
You can file at cybercrime.gov.in, but calling 1930 is faster for triggering an urgent freeze request. There's no judgment on the other end of that line — they handle these calls constantly.
What if no money was lost but I'm still worried?
Still report it at cybercrime.gov.in. Even without a financial loss, reporting helps flag the number or account before it's used against someone else.
Where do I go after making the initial report?
Use this page to match your specific situation — UPI fraud, digital arrest, a hacked account, and so on — to the right detailed guide, or start from the complete India recovery guide for the full sequence.
Curious what's already out there about you? Scan My Shadow checks your phone number and email across 1,500+ sources and sends you a clear report — no guesswork, just facts. Start your scan.
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- Scan data deleted after report is generated