Pick a situation
The provisions are those that match the facts as the statutes describe them. A complaint can mention several, and which of them are charged is decided by the police and the court. The Sanhita numbers replaced the Indian Penal Code from 1 July 2024, and the old numbers are on the page on IPC to BNS.
| Situation | IT Act | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita | Where to report or what to do | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money lost after a call from someone posing as a bank officer | Section 66D | Sections 318(4) and 319 | Tell the bank at once, then call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in | UPI fraud complaint |
| Threatened with arrest and told to stay on a video call and pay | Section 66D | Sections 204, 319, 318(4), 308 and 351 | Call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in | Digital arrest scam |
| A fake profile or account in my name | Sections 66C and 66D | Section 319 where the pretence is used to cheat | Report on cybercrime.gov.in and complain to the platform’s Grievance Officer | Sections 66C, 66D, 66E |
| Someone used my password, OTP or other identifier | Section 66C, with sections 43 and 66 if the account was accessed | Sections 318 and 319 where it was used to cheat | Tell the bank or service at once, then call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in | Sections 66C, 66D, 66E |
| My computer, account or data was accessed, copied or damaged without permission | Sections 43 and 66 | Offences of the Sanhita that apply to the facts, such as cheating or forgery | Report on cybercrime.gov.in; a claim for compensation goes to the adjudicating officer | Sections 43, 65, 66 |
| An intimate image of me was shared, or I am threatened with it | Sections 66E, 67 and 67A | Sections 77, 308 and 351 | Ask the platform to remove it: it must act within two hours of the complaint. Then report on cybercrime.gov.in | IT Rules 2021 |
| A morphed or impersonating image or video of me is online | Section 66D where it cheats; sections 67 and 67A where it is obscene or sexually explicit | Sections 319 and 336(4) | Complain to the platform: removal within two hours of the complaint under rule 3(2)(b). Then report on cybercrime.gov.in | IT Rules 2021 |
| Threats or abusive messages sent to me | Section 66A is not available: the Supreme Court struck it down in 2015 | Section 351, criminal intimidation | Report on cybercrime.gov.in or to the police | IPC to BNS |
| A man keeps contacting me or monitors my internet or e-mail use | No separate IT Act section | Section 78, stalking, and section 79 | Report on cybercrime.gov.in, which has a special focus on crimes against women and children | IPC to BNS |
| A post defames me | Section 66A is not available: the Supreme Court struck it down in 2015 | Section 356, defamation | Complain to the platform and report to the police | Case reports |
| A fake website or seller took my money | Section 66D | Section 318(4), cheating | Tell the bank, call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in | Online fraud |
| A forged electronic document or record is being used | The IT Act definition of electronic form is used in the Sanhita | Sections 335, 336 and 340 | Report to the police | IPC to BNS |
| Obscene or child sexual material is online | Sections 67, 67A and 67B | Section 294 | Report on cybercrime.gov.in | Sections 67, 67A, 67B |
| My phone or device was stolen | Section 66B for dishonestly receiving or retaining it | Section 303, theft | Report to the police | Sections 43, 65, 66 |
| A company has lost or leaked my personal data | Section 43A until it is omitted by section 44(2)(a) of the DPDP Act, from the date that provision comes into force | Not applicable | The DPDP Act and Rules: the Data Protection Board hears complaints, and the breach duties in the Rules begin after their eighteen-month period | DPDP Rules 2025 |
| I need to use an e-mail, message or recording as evidence in court | Not applicable | Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam | File the certificate in the form in the Schedule with the electronic record | Section 63 BSA |
Where to report in every case
For a cyber crime, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in and the helpline 1930 are the national route, and where money has been lost the first call is to the bank. The steps and the details to keep are on the page on how to report a cyber crime online.
Frequently asked questions
Which section of the IT Act applies to online fraud?
Section 66D punishes cheating by personation by means of a communication device or computer resource, with imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s section 318 on cheating and section 319 on cheating by personation can be mentioned in the same complaint.
Which section applies to a fake profile?
Sections 66C and 66D of the IT Act, and section 319 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, are the provisions that match the conduct where the profile is used to cheat. Whether an offence is made out depends on the facts.
Is section 66A of the IT Act still in force?
No. The Supreme Court struck down section 66A in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India on 24 March 2015, so threats and offensive messages are dealt with under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, for example section 351 on criminal intimidation.
Is this a substitute for advice from a lawyer?
No. The table lists the provisions that match each situation in the words of the statutes, and which ones are charged is for the police and the court.