Complaint for Cheating / Fraud

Complaint for Cheating / Fraud: what it is

A complaint for cheating or fraud is a written report to the Station House Officer stating that you were deceived into handing over money, property or something of value. It records the incident date, what happened, who was involved and the loss, and asks the police to register the complaint and act under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

When you need this document

• Someone took an advance for a job, a flat, a visa or goods and then disappeared or refused to deliver.
• You were persuaded to invest in a scheme that turned out to be fake and the promoters stopped responding.
• A person pretended to be someone else, such as a bank official or a relative, and got money or details from you.
• Property documents, cheques or signatures were forged or misused to take your money or asset.

What it covers

• Your name and address and the date on which the cheating or fraud took place.
• A details section describing how you were deceived and what you handed over.
• An accused section with the name, address, phone number or other particulars of the person, if known.
• The financial loss in rupees, where there is one.
• A request to register the complaint and take action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and other applicable law, signed by you.

How to fill, sign and use it

1. 1For online or UPI fraud, call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in immediately, then inform your bank so it can try to freeze the money.
2. 2List the events in date order: first contact, the promise, each payment, and when you realised it was false.
3. 3Fill in the facts, the accused's details and the exact loss, checking every amount and date against your records.
4. 4Print, sign and attach copies of payment proofs, chats, emails and agreements; keep the originals with you.
5. 5Submit it at the police station and ask for an FIR to be registered; a zero FIR can be registered at any station.
6. 6Collect a receipt and, once registered, your free copy of the FIR; if the station does not act, escalate in writing to the Superintendent of Police.

Documents to attach or keep with it

• Bank statements, UPI screenshots, cheque copies or receipts showing payments
• Chat messages, emails, call logs or recordings with the accused
• Any agreement, offer letter, invoice or advertisement used to induce you
• Cyber complaint acknowledgement number, if filed on cybercrime.gov.in

The law behind it

Cheating is an offence under section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (old section 420 IPC); the BNS also covers criminal breach of trust and forgery. Complaints are registered under section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which also recognises zero FIR and e-FIR. For offences punishable with three years or more but less than seven years, the police may, with a senior officer's permission, hold a preliminary enquiry, to be completed within 14 days, before registering. Incidents before 1 July 2024 can still be governed by the IPC. Police often treat purely contractual disputes as civil, so the complaint should show deception from the start.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Delaying the report on online fraud; the chance of freezing money in the receiving account drops sharply after the first few hours.
• Describing only a broken promise or unpaid dues, without showing that the accused intended to deceive from the beginning.
• Giving rough amounts and dates instead of exact figures taken from bank statements.

Complaint for Cheating / Fraud: frequently asked questions