Sanchar Saathi Chakshu Portal: How to Report Suspected Fraud Calls, SMS & WhatsApp Messages in India (2026 Guide)

1. Direct Summary: Immediate Action Protocol for Suspected Fraud Communications

Every day, millions of Indian citizens receive alarming phone calls, deceptive text messages, or unsolicited WhatsApp chats designed to induce panic or greed. Common triggers include warnings that your mobile number will be disconnected within two hours, claims that an intercepted international parcel contains illegal narcotics, urgent notices that your electricity meter will be cut off tonight, or links promising instant part-time job payouts.

If you have received any such communication, execute this immediate protocol:

• Perform Instant Financial Triage:

* Did you lose money or disclose confidential banking credentials (OTP, UPI PIN, Net Banking password)?

* YES: Do NOT rely on Chakshu. Immediately call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 and lodge a formal complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) to trigger immediate inter-bank freezing of illicit fund transfers.

* NO: If you recognized the deception before suffering financial harm, your incident falls squarely under the Sanchar Saathi — Chakshu reporting mandate.

• Terminate the Engagement Instantly:

* Hang up immediately. Do not press keypad numbers (such as "Press 9 to speak with an executive"), do not reply to messages, and never click shortened hyperlinks or download APK attachments.

• Capture Verifiable Evidence:

* Take a clear screenshot of the suspicious phone call log, SMS, or WhatsApp chat. Ensure the sender phone number or alphanumeric header, date, and exact timestamp are clearly visible.

• Verify the 30-Day Window:

* Check the timestamp of the event. Sanchar Saathi Chakshu accepts reports only for communications received within the last 30 calendar days. Older communications are rejected by the system intake rules.

• Lodge an Intelligence Report on Chakshu:

* Navigate to the official portal at sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/ (or through the unified Sanchar Saathi homepage). Select the communication medium, choose the appropriate fraud category, upload your screenshot (maximum 1 MB), enter the suspect's number, provide a brief factual summary, and authenticate using an OTP sent to your active mobile number.

[!IMPORTANT]

Preventive Intelligence vs. Criminal FIR:

Sanchar Saathi's Chakshu is a citizen-driven telecom fraud intelligence portal managed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications. It is designed to proactively detect, analyze, and disable fraudulent telecom assets (SIM cards and mobile handsets). Reporting an incident on Chakshu does not constitute filing a police FIR, nor does it initiate a personal grievance redressal mechanism or financial chargeback.

2. Official Reportable Categories Under Sanchar Saathi Chakshu

The Department of Telecommunications, in coordination with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and law enforcement agencies, has classified suspected telecom communications into structured intelligence categories. When logging a complaint on Chakshu, you must select the category that accurately matches the nature of the communication:

1. Impersonation of Government, Regulatory, or Law Enforcement Officials

• DoT / TRAI Disconnection Threats: Automated robocalls or human callers claiming that all mobile numbers registered against your Aadhaar card will be permanently terminated within 2 hours due to illegal advertisements, harassing SMS broadcasts, or cybercrime allegations.
• Law Enforcement / Digital Arrest Coercion: Fraudsters impersonating Delhi Police, Mumbai Police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), or judicial magistrates. They intimidate victims over WhatsApp audio or video calls, displaying fake uniforms, forged warrant documents, and fabricated arrest orders.
• Customs / Courier Narcotic Allegations: Scammers claiming that a parcel booked under your Aadhaar (via FedEx, DHL, or India Post) destined for Taiwan, Cambodia, or UAE has been seized by customs containing MDMA, synthetic drugs, passports, or illegal currency.

2. Financial, Utility, and Service Disconnection Threats

• Electricity / Utility Bill Disconnection: SMS or WhatsApp messages claiming your household electricity power will be disconnected at 9:30 PM tonight because your last month's bill was not updated, providing a personal 10-digit mobile number to contact the "power officer".
• Bank Account / KYC Deactivation: Deceptive messages asserting that your State Bank of India, HDFC, ICICI, or Punjab National Bank savings account, debit card, or Net Banking facility has been frozen due to expired KYC or unlinked PAN cards, directing you to click an unverified hyperlink.
• Fake Customer Care & Helpline Numbers: Fraudulent search engine results or WhatsApp numbers impersonating airline refund desks, food delivery support, e-commerce return desks, or payment gateway helpdesks.

3. Deceptive Offers, Malicious Links, and Investment Lures

• Fake Part-Time Job / Telegram Rating Scams: Unsolicited messages offering ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 daily for evaluating hotels on Google Maps, subscribing to YouTube channels, or completing simple tasks on Telegram groups.
• Stock Market & High-Yield Investment Schemes: WhatsApp and Telegram group invitations promising guaranteed 200% to 500% monthly returns on institutional equity trading, "SEBI-approved" pre-IPO allocations, or algorithmic cryptocurrency arbitrage.
• Malicious APK & Phishing Links: Messages prompting recipients to install Android application packages (.apk files) masquerading as government welfare schemes (PM Awas Yojana, PM Kisan Nidhi, free smartphones) or banking rewards apps (SBI_Rewards.apk).

4. Cyber Harassment and Sextortion

• WhatsApp Video Call Blackmail: Unsolicited video calls from unknown numbers where a compromise or explicit screen is triggered, followed immediately by recorded screen captures used to extort money under threat of social media defamation or police reporting.

3. Anatomy & Transcripts of Prevalent Telecom Fraud Communications

Understanding the exact psychological patterns and scripts deployed by telecom syndicates allows citizens to instantly spot fraud before falling victim. Below are verbatim transcripts of prevalent scam communications circulating across Indian telecom networks:

Example 1: The Automated TRAI / DoT Disconnection Robocall

• The Psychological Trap: The scam leverages artificial urgency (2-hour deadline) and institutional authority to create blind compliance. In reality, neither TRAI nor DoT directly contacts citizens or disconnects numbers via robocalls. Disconnections follow statutory verification protocols issued exclusively through your telecom service provider (Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL). *(If you received this automated voice call threatening disconnection within 2 hours, read our dedicated investigation on How to Report and Block the TRAI Mobile Disconnection Scam).*

Example 2: The Urgent Electricity Bill Cut-Off SMS

• The Psychological Trap: Targets basic household security. State electricity boards (DISCOMs) never send official cutoff notifications from standard 10-digit personal mobile numbers; legitimate utility communications always originate from registered government or enterprise SMS headers (e.g., VM-TNEB, VK-BSESDL, BZ-UPPCL). Calling the personal number leads to instructions to install remote desktop tools (AnyDesk/TeamViewer) or pay ₹10 via a malicious link.

Example 3: The Fake Customs & Courier Narcotics Trap

• The Psychological Trap: Fabricates fear of immediate criminal prosecution and drug trafficking charges. Couriers have no legal power to connect callers to police lines, and Indian police never conduct investigations, record statements, or issue bails via Skype or WhatsApp video calls.

Example 4: The Fake Bank KYC & PAN Linking Phishing SMS

• The Psychological Trap: Employs shortened bitly or dynamic Firebase URLs directing victims to pixel-perfect clone websites that capture Net Banking usernames, passwords, and secondary OTPs.

4. The Strategic Distinction: Chakshu vs. Cybercrime 1930 vs. TRAI DND 1909

A frequent point of confusion among Indian consumers is determining which government channel to approach when targeted by unwanted or suspicious communications. Filing a report on the wrong portal leads to administrative delays and ineffective outcomes.

The comparison table below outlines the precise jurisdictions, authorities, and actions across the three primary national citizen portals:

5. Step-by-Step Reporting Walkthrough on Chakshu Portal

Filing a suspected fraud report on Chakshu is completely free, entirely digital, and takes approximately 3 to 5 minutes. The following architectural flowchart and step-by-step instructions illustrate the reporting journey:

• Launch any modern web browser on your smartphone or desktop.
• Navigate directly to the official URL: [sancharsaathi.gov.in.
• Under the Citizen Centric Services section on the homepage, click on the Chakshu (चक्षु) card, or navigate directly to https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/.
• Read the introductory advisory confirming that Chakshu is intended solely for reporting suspected fraudulent communications where no financial loss has taken place.

Step 2: Choose Communication Medium & Fraud Category

• Select Medium: Choose one of the three supported options:

* Voice Call

* SMS

* WhatsApp

• Select Category of Suspected Fraud: Open the dropdown menu and select the primary classification (e.g., *Impersonation*, *Fake Customer Care*, *KYC/Electricity Disconnection*, *Sextortion*, *Malicious Link*).
• Select Sub-Category: Choose the specific sub-type (e.g., under Impersonation: *Posing as Police/CBI/Customs* or *Posing as DoT/TRAI*).

Step 3: Attach Documentary Evidence & Timestamp

• Upload Screenshot: Click Choose File and upload a clear screenshot of the communication.

* Accepted formats: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .pdf.

* File size must not exceed 1 MB.

• Enter Date and Time: Select the exact date and time when the communication was received from the interactive calendar picker. The system will disallow any date older than 30 days.

Step 4: Enter Suspect Identifier Details

• Suspect Mobile Number / Header: Enter the phone number or SMS sender ID from which the call or message originated.
• Include Country Code: If the call or WhatsApp message originated from an international code (e.g., +92 Pakistan, +84 Vietnam, +234 Nigeria, +1 USA/Canada VOIP), ensure the country prefix is accurately captured.

Step 5: Draft the Incident Description

• Provide a concise, factual narrative in the text box (maximum 500 characters).
• State specifically what the fraudster demanded or alleged (e.g., *"Caller posed as Mumbai Police Crime Branch, claimed my Aadhaar was linked to money laundering, and demanded I join a Skype video call for interrogation"*).
• Avoid emotional language; stick to verified facts, names used by the caller, and demands made.

Step 6: Enter Personal Details and Authenticate via OTP

• Enter your full name.
• Enter your active 10-digit mobile number.
• Complete the Captcha verification code displayed on the screen.
• Click Get OTP.
• Enter the 6-digit One-Time Password received on your mobile phone and click Verify & Submit.
• Upon successful validation, the portal displays a confirmation message with a unique Complaint/Reference Number. Save this reference for future correspondence.

6. Information & Evidence Required Before Submitting

To ensure your Chakshu report is actionable and not rejected during automated screening, have the following details assembled prior to opening the form:

• Exact Medium of Communication: Whether the attempt occurred via cellular voice call, cellular SMS, or third-party over-the-top (OTT) messaging (WhatsApp).
• Sender Phone Number or Sender Header:

* For standard mobile calls/SMS: The 10-digit mobile number.

* For international calls: Complete number with + country code.

* For commercial/enterprise SMS: The alphanumeric header (e.g., VK-SBIINB, BP-POWERC).

• Precise Date and Timestamp: The exact day, hour, and minute the call or message was received. Reports for events older than 30 calendar days cannot be submitted.
• Legible Screenshot Attachment:

* Must clearly capture the sender's identifier, message body, or call history screen.

* Must be under 1 MB in file size.

* Supported extensions: JPEG, PNG, PDF.

• Brief Factual Description: A clear explanation of what transpired during the interaction, including any websites, bank accounts, or APK file names mentioned by the scammer.
• Active Mobile Number for Reporter OTP: An active Indian mobile number capable of receiving SMS OTP authentication.

7. Behind the Scenes: What Happens After You Submit a Chakshu Report?

Many citizens wonder whether lodging a report on Chakshu yields tangible results or simply disappears into an administrative database. In reality, Chakshu connects directly to the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP)—an advanced backend infrastructure created by the DoT to institutionalize cross-stakeholder intelligence sharing.

The following systemic workflow is initiated upon report submission:

Modern cybercrime syndicates routinely rotate burner SIM cards while retaining the same physical mobile handsets. To counter this loophole, the DoT integrates Chakshu intelligence with the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). If a mobile handset's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is proven to be involved in recurring cyber fraud or illegal call routing, the IMEI itself is permanently blacklisted across all telecom networks in India. Even if the criminal inserts a fresh, legitimate SIM card into that handset, the device will be denied cellular registration nationwide. *(For complete instructions on blocking stolen handsets by IMEI or verifying blacklist status, see our guide on [How to Block a Lost or Stolen Mobile on CEIR).*

8. Critical Boundaries: What Chakshu CANNOT Do or Replace

While Chakshu is an essential tool for neutralizing telecom fraud infrastructure, citizens must understand its legal and operational limitations to avoid misplacing their expectations:

• Chakshu is NOT an FIR or Criminal Investigation: Submitting a report does not register a First Information Report (FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Police officers will not contact you, investigate the personal identity of the suspect on your behalf, or summon you to a police station based on a Chakshu filing.
• Chakshu CANNOT Recover Lost Money: The portal contains zero integration with commercial banking rails, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), or payment aggregators. If money has been debited from your bank account, Chakshu has no authority to trace funds, initiate chargebacks, or freeze beneficiary accounts.
• Chakshu is NOT for Personal or Civil Disputes: The platform must never be used to settle personal vendettas, family grievances, disputes between landlords and tenants, or commercial disagreements with registered vendors. Deliberately lodging false fraud reports against innocent citizens is an offense punishable under telecom regulations.
• Chakshu is NOT for Legitimate Registered Telemarketing: If you receive promotional offers for credit cards, home loans, or insurance policies from legitimate commercial entities, do not report them on Chakshu. Such communications must be reported to TRAI DND (1909) as Unsolicited Commercial Communications.

9. Emergency Protocol: What to Do If Financial Loss Has Already Occurred

If you or someone you know engaged with a fraud call, clicked a malicious link, or followed a scammer's instructions resulting in an unauthorized bank debit, do not waste time filing on Chakshu. Execute this emergency recovery sequence immediately:

Step 1: Call the 1930 Cybercrime Helpline Instantly

• Dial 1930 (National Cyber Financial Fraud Helpline, managed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre - I4C).
• Reporting the crime within the first 2 to 3 hours (the Golden Hour) is critical. During this window, stolen funds are typically in transit across intermediate mule bank accounts or digital wallets and have not yet been cashed out via ATMs, crypto exchanges, or P2P merchants.

Step 2: Leverage the CFCFRMS Mechanism

• When you report through 1930, the operator inputs transaction reference details into the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS).
• CFCFRMS sends real-time automated API alerts to the security and nodal fraud desks of both the remitting bank and the beneficiary banks/wallets, placing immediate debit freezes (liens) on the recipient accounts to prevent further fund dissipation.

Step 3: Immediate Banking Self-Defense

• Call your bank's dedicated 24/7 fraud helpline immediately to:

* Block and hotlist all compromised debit and credit cards.

* Disable Net Banking access, UPI IDs, and mobile banking credentials.

* Request a formal Banking Dispute Acknowledgment Number and transaction statement.

Step 4: Complete the Written National Cybercrime Report

• Visit cybercrime.gov.in and register a formal cyber fraud complaint under Report Financial Fraud.
• Attach bank statements highlighting the fraudulent transactions, screenshot proofs of conversations, call records, and details of the recipient UPI handles/bank accounts.
• Save the generated 14-digit Acknowledgement Number for tracking and formal police correspondence. *(For full details on navigating the portal and securing frozen funds, see our guide on How to Report Cyber Crime in India: Portal, Helplines and Recovery Steps).*

Step 5: Judicial Release of Frozen Funds (Section 503 BNSS)

• Once the cyber cell freezes the stolen funds in destination mule accounts, the bank cannot unilaterally reverse the money to your account without judicial authorization.
• You or your legal counsel must file an application under Section 503 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 (formerly Section 457 of the Code of Criminal Procedure - CrPC) before the jurisdictional Judicial Magistrate Court, requesting an order directing the bank to release and return the frozen property to the lawful owner.

10. Practical Smartphone Defense Checklist: 7 Essential Security Rules

To protect yourself and your family from sophisticated telecom social engineering attacks, adopt these 7 practical habits:

• Scrutinize Sender Headers: Official bank, telecom, and government notifications arrive with registered alphanumeric headers containing a category and entity code (e.g., AD-HDFCBK, JM-EPFIND, VK-AIRTEL). If an urgent message about your bank account or electricity disconnection originates from a standard 10-digit mobile number (+91 98XXX XXXXX), it is 100% fraudulent.
• Never Sideload Unknown APK Files: Android application package (.apk) files sent over WhatsApp or SMS bypass official Google Play Store security vetting. Sideloading such files installs accessibility Trojans and SMS-forwarders that silently steal your two-factor OTPs. Keep Install Unknown Apps disabled in your phone's settings.
• Refuse Screen-Sharing Software: Never install remote access applications like AnyDesk, TeamViewer QuickSupport, RustDesk, or Splashtop on the instructions of any incoming caller. These tools allow fraudsters to view your screen in real time and observe your banking passwords and OTP entries.
• Set a SIM Card PIN: Configure a 4-digit SIM PIN via your device settings (Android: Settings → Security → SIM Card Lock; iOS: Settings → Cellular → SIM PIN). If your physical phone is stolen, thieves cannot insert your SIM into another device to bypass UPI and banking OTPs without entering the PIN.
• Audit Active SIMs Every Six Months on TAFCOP: Regularly log in to sancharsaathi.gov.in/sancharsaathi/tafcop to inspect all active mobile numbers registered against your identity documents. Immediately flag and report any unrecognized numbers as *"Not My Number"*. *(See our comprehensive step-by-step tutorial on How to Check and Report Unknown SIM Cards on Sanchar Saathi TAFCOP).*
• Recognize the Fallacy of 'Digital Arrest': Indian law enforcement agencies (CBI, Police, Customs, ED, Courts) never conduct investigations, interrogations, or arrests via Skype, WhatsApp, or Zoom video calls. The concept of an online "digital arrest" has zero legal validity in India. Anyone demanding you stay on a video call under threat of arrest is an extortionist.
• Verify Contact Numbers Exclusively via Official Websites: Never search for customer service phone numbers on Google Search, Google Maps, or social media, as scammers poison search engine optimization (SEO) results with fake helpline numbers. Always retrieve customer support contacts directly from the official mobile application or official company invoices.

11. Official Government & Regulatory Resources

To ensure you are accessing authorized government facilities, rely exclusively on these primary portals:

• Department of Telecommunications (DoT): https://dot.gov.in — Policy directives, licensing guidelines, and telecom consumer protection frameworks.
• Unified Sanchar Saathi Portal: https://sancharsaathi.gov.in — Centralized citizen-centric telecom security gateway.
• Sanchar Saathi Chakshu Reporting Facility: https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/ — Direct portal for reporting suspected fraud calls, SMS, and WhatsApp communications.
• Sanchar Saathi TAFCOP Service: https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sancharsaathi/tafcop — Check and report unauthorized SIM cards registered in your name.
• Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR): https://ceir.sancharsaathi.gov.in — Blacklist and unblock lost or stolen mobile handsets using IMEI.
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (I4C): https://cybercrime.gov.in — Official portal for reporting financial cyber fraud and filing formal criminal complaints.
• National Cyber Crime Helpline: Dial 1930 (toll-free, 24/7 across India).
• TRAI Do Not Disturb (DND) Service: Dial or SMS to 1909 or visit https://trai.gov.in for telemarketing spam redressal.

12. Statutory & Regulatory Disclaimer

[!NOTE]

Platform Information & Legal Disclaimer:

ComplaintAdda is an independent consumer awareness and legal information portal dedicated to educating Indian citizens on regulatory frameworks, cyber hygiene, and grievance escalation mechanisms. ComplaintAdda is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), TRAI, or any telecom service provider.

> All reports regarding suspected fraudulent communications must be submitted directly through the official government portal at sancharsaathi.gov.in. ComplaintAdda does not process complaints, block phone numbers, trace cybercriminals, or recover lost funds. If you have been defrauded of financial assets, contact the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or file an official complaint on cybercrime.gov.in without delay. Readers are advised to consult certified legal counsel or law enforcement officials for individual legal advice.