Money Fraud Consultation
Urgent advice after a money or cyber fraud — reporting on 1930, bank and police steps, evidence preservation and recovery options.
- Estimate Cost
- ₹3,000 – ₹25,000
- Typical duration
- 7 days
Service overview
- A money-fraud consultation is a structured session with a legal professional to understand what happened to you, what the law offers, and the order in which to act
- It covers investment scams, Ponzi and chit schemes, fake trading apps, loan and job scams, impersonation frauds, advance-fee scams and breaches of trust by business partners or agents
Who needs it? / When is it needed?
- You were cheated in an investment scheme, trading or crypto platform, chit fund or "guaranteed returns" offer.
- Someone took your money for a job, visa, property or loan and disappeared.
- A relative, partner or agent misused your money or signature.
- You paid a "processing fee" or "tax" to get your money back and are now being asked for more.
What to expect from the WCP Professionals
- Listen to the whole timeline. WCP professionals reconstruct who contacted you, what was promised, when each payment was made, and what documents or messages exist.
- Classify the wrong. Cyber fraud (hold funds through 1930 and the portal), cheating and criminal breach of trust (FIR under the BNS), unregulated deposit schemes (BUDS Act, 2019), securities or collective investment schemes (SEBI), company misconduct (ROC), or a civil debt that needs a notice and suit.
- Fix the first hour. If the money moved recently, call 1930 and file on the cybercrime portal now so banks can hold the funds as they move through accounts.
- Build the evidence file. Bank transfers, UPI IDs and UTRs, receipts, brochures, chats, call recordings, websites and ads - preserved and indexed. For NRIs, WCP professionals also prepare the Power of Attorney for a representative in India.
- File in the right places. Police or the Economic Offences Wing for an FIR, SEBI or the Registrar of Companies where the scheme is regulated, and the bank or ombudsman for related disputes.
- Push for attachment. Where there are assets, WCP professionals advise on seeking freezing of accounts and attachment, and on joining the process for distribution.
Key deliverables
- Detailed consultation and case classification
- Written action plan (what to report, to whom and in what order)
- Evidence checklist and preservation advice
- Draft complaint
- FIR, regulator petition or legal notice, as agreed
- Guidance on follow-up with police, EOW and regulators
- Next-step recommendation: civil suit, injunction or attachment
Standard turnaround time
- Consultation: same day or within 1 to 2 working days of request.
- Written action plan: 1 to 3 working days after the consultation.
- Indicative recovery timelines from experience reports: evidence collection 1 to 7 days; police complaint 7 to 14 days; regulator reports 14 to 30 days; attachment 30 to 90 days; liquidation and distribution 6 to 18 months, often with partial recovery.
Government fees, timelines & key outcomes
- Government fee: none for reporting on 1930, the portal, a police complaint or a regulator complaint; court fees and stamp-paper charges apply for civil action.
- Key outcome: a complaint or FIR on record, funds held where possible, regulators informed, and a clear route to attachment or civil recovery. Full recovery is never guaranteed.
Forms & filings involved
- Complaint on 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
- FIR with the police or Economic Offences Wing (cheating, criminal breach of trust)
- Complaint to SEBI (SCORES) or the Registrar of Companies, where applicable
- Complaint under the BUDS Act, 2019 for unregulated deposit schemes
- Legal notice and civil suit for recovery, where appropriate
- Petition for attachment / freezing of assets
Documents required
- Bank statements, UTRs and receipts of every payment
- Chats, emails, call logs and recordings
- Screenshots of websites, apps, ads and brochures
- Identity details of the persons involved: phone numbers, UPI IDs, accounts, addresses
- Agreements, investment certificates or promissory notes
- Your ID and address proof
- For NRIs: NRE
- NRO account trail and Power of Attorney
What we need from you
- Tell the WCP professional everything, including what you think makes you look careless.
- Do not delete chats or apps, and do not confront the fraudster.
- Do not pay anyone who offers to "recover" your money for an upfront fee.
- Keep all documents in one place and send the WCP professional copies.
Important conditions
- This is legal guidance, not a guarantee of recovery.
- Civil recovery has a limitation period (generally 3 years) that may already be running.
Additional information
- Under the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, running such a scheme is a serious offence, and the Act provides for attachment of assets to repay depositors.
- You can ask the WCP professional to coordinate with your bank on disputed transactions and chargebacks.
The estimated cost covers indicative professional fees only. Government fees, stamp duty and taxes are payable at actuals.
How it works
- 1. Raise a service enquiry describing your requirement.
- 2. A Relationship Manager reviews it and opens it for bidding.
- 3. Pay into escrow and assign the professional you select.
- 4. Track progress to completion, then accept and release payment.
Frequently asked questions
How fast should cyber fraud be reported?
Immediately — ideally within the first hour — on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in, so the receiving accounts can be frozen.
Will I get my money back?
It depends on how quickly the funds are traced and frozen; amounts held in the fraudster's account can be released through the court.
Is the bank liable for unauthorised transactions?
Under RBI rules, a customer reporting within three working days has zero liability for third-party fraud not caused by their negligence.
What evidence should I keep?
Transaction IDs, screenshots of chats and websites, call logs, emails and bank statements.