How to report a fake trading or investment app to SEBI and Cybercrime

If you lose money to a fake trading app, call the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 immediately. Then file a formal report on the government cybercrime portal within 24 hours and report the app to SEBI. This guide explains exactly who to contact.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-11-01

If you lose money to a fake trading app, call the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 immediately. You must then file a formal report on the government cybercrime portal and alert the market regulator. This guide explains exactly who to contact to try to stop your money and report the scammers.

Quick answer

If you just lost money to a fake trading app, call the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 immediately so the police can try to stop the money.
File a detailed complaint on the official cybercrime.gov.in portal within 24 hours of the call, using the acknowledgement number you get by SMS.
Report the fake app to SEBI on its Market Intelligence portal at mi.sebi.gov.in. SEBI SCORES does not take complaints about unregistered activity.
If you only spotted a scam link in a WhatsApp group and have not lost money, report the number on the DoT Chakshu portal.

What you need before you start

Bank statements or UPI transaction SMS logs showing the exact time and amount of the transfer.
The transaction reference number (UTR, or the RRN for UPI) for every payment you made to the scammers. Your bank statement or payment SMS shows it.
Screenshots of the fake trading app, the fake demat account balance, and the WhatsApp or Telegram chat logs.
The exact URL, website link, or APK file name of the fake investment app.
A quick check on SEBI's registered intermediaries and registered trading apps lists. You can also look in the Qrates stock broking and mutual fund directories. If an app has no verifiable registration, it is a major red flag, and you can mention this in your report.

Steps to report a fake trading app

1. Call the 1930 cybercrime helpline

Call 1930 as soon as you notice the fraud. Do not wait. Have your name, mobile number, address and transaction details ready. State and UT police officials take the call and enter your details under the I4C system of the Ministry of Home Affairs, as explained in our guide to report cyber fraud on 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in. This system links police, banks and payment firms so they can try to stop the money moving out. You will get an acknowledgement number by SMS. Save it.

2. File a report on cybercrime.gov.in

Do this within 24 hours of your 1930 call, using the acknowledgement number. Go to cybercrime.gov.in and start a complaint. Register with your name and an Indian mobile number, which gets an OTP. Choose the category and sub-category for financial fraud. Button names can vary. Add your description, screenshots, bank statements and reference numbers. Use the check status option to track it.

3. Report the fake app to SEBI

Go to SEBI's Market Intelligence portal at mi.sebi.gov.in. Do not use SEBI SCORES for this. SCORES only handles complaints against listed companies and SEBI registered entities, and its FAQ lists unregistered activity as a matter it cannot consider. SEBI's PR No. 22/2025 also says SCORES and smartodr.in are not available for disputes with unregistered apps. You can check if a stock broker is SEBI registered and spot fake trading apps first. SEBI treats this information as confidential, so you may not get a status update. This step does not recover your money, so do steps 1 and 2 first.

If the app is pretending to be a real SEBI registered broker, say so in your report.

4. Report WhatsApp scam links on the Chakshu portal

Visit the Sanchar Saathi website and open the Chakshu page. Report the number that sent you the fake trading app links by call, SMS or WhatsApp. Chakshu is for suspected fraud messages. The page says that if you have already lost money, you should use 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in instead.

How long it takes and what it costs

The 1930 helpline is toll-free. We found no filing fee on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, the SEBI Market Intelligence portal or the Chakshu page. Do not pay anyone who offers to file these for you or promises to recover your money. Calling fast gives the police and banks a better chance of stopping the money.

There is no fixed time for recovering money. Recovery is never guaranteed once the scammers withdraw the cash.

If it does not work

Go to your local police station with your acknowledgement number and ask about the next steps, including an FIR. The I4C FAQ names the local police station and the State/UT nodal officer as your follow-up contacts.
Contact your bank's fraud department immediately to file a UPI fraud recovery steps request for the specific transactions.
If the fake app took deposits or money through a scheme promising fixed returns, you can also file a report on the RBI-backed Sachet portal at sachet.rbi.org.in.

FAQs

How to report a fake trading app to SEBI?

Use SEBI's Market Intelligence portal at mi.sebi.gov.in. Do not use SCORES, because it does not take complaints about unregistered activity. If you lost money, call 1930 first.

Fake trading app se paise kaise nikale?

You cannot withdraw money directly from a fake trading app because the balance shown is not real. Call the 1930 cybercrime helpline immediately so the police can try to stop the money in the scammer's bank account.

Where to complain if an investment app takes your money?

Call the 1930 national cybercrime helpline first. Then, within 24 hours, file a detailed report on cybercrime.gov.in with your transaction details and acknowledgement number.

Trading app real hai ya fake kaise check kare?

Check SEBI's lists of registered intermediaries and registered trading apps at investor.sebi.gov.in/Investor-support.html. Download apps only from official app stores. If the app has no regulatory registration, it is likely a fake application.

Can I get my money back from a fake investment app?

You may get some money back if the money is stopped before the scammers withdraw it from their bank account. Call 1930 fast. Recovery is never guaranteed.

What is the cyber crime helpline number for financial fraud?

The national cybercrime helpline number for financial fraud in India is 1930. State and UT police officials take the calls under the I4C system of the Ministry of Home Affairs (I4C FAQ).

How to file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in?

Visit cybercrime.gov.in and start a complaint. Register with your name and Indian mobile number, choose the financial fraud category and submit your reference numbers and screenshots. If you called 1930, do this within 24 hours using your acknowledgement number.

The short version

Call 1930 immediately if you lost money to a fake trading app.
File a detailed financial fraud report on cybercrime.gov.in within 24 hours of the call.
Report the fake app on SEBI's Market Intelligence portal at mi.sebi.gov.in, not on SCORES.
Report suspicious WhatsApp numbers on the DoT Chakshu page.
Check SEBI's lists first, and use the Qrates apps directory as a second look.