Did fraudsters empty your bank account in the middle of the night? Here’s what you should do immediately.

Suppose money is stolen from your bank account in the middle of the night—what should you do? Should you wait until morning, or should you file a complaint right away? Let’s find out.

Cases of online fraud have seen a significant rise recently. Often, fraudsters trick people into revealing their OTPs to siphon off money, while at other times, funds may be deducted from an account without any action from the user. If money is suddenly deducted from your account in the middle of the night—for a transaction you did not initiate—what would you do?

Would you wait until morning, or would you take immediate action? You might be unsure about the right course of action in such a situation. Let us guide you.

What should you do in such a situation?

Regardless of whether it is the middle of the night or 4:00 AM, you should immediately notify your bank and file a complaint with the cybercrime helpline. Acting quickly can help prevent further losses and increase the chances of recovering the stolen funds. There is absolutely no need to wait until morning.

Take these essential steps immediately

If you fall victim to such fraud, you should take the following critical steps:

Notify your bank immediately upon discovering any suspicious transaction in your account.
If you suspect that your debit card, UPI, or net banking services are being misused, request the bank to temporarily disable these facilities. In many cases, you can also block your card via your mobile banking app.
Call the national cybercrime helpline number, 1930, to report the fraud. You can also file a complaint through the government’s official portal, cybercrime.gov.in. Keep a record of the message regarding the deduction of funds, the transaction ID, the amount, the date, and any communication you have had with the bank. Also, make sure to keep a note of your complaint reference number.

You can file a complaint even in the middle of the night.

Many people believe that if money is stolen from their account after banking hours, they must wait until the next morning to report it. This is not the case. According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations, banks are required to provide a 24-hour facility for customers to report unauthorized electronic transactions.

If money has been withdrawn from your account without your authorization, call the bank’s official helpline number. You can find this number on the bank’s website, its mobile app, or on your debit card. Inform the bank that you did not initiate the transaction and that you wish to file a formal complaint. Be sure to obtain a complaint reference number and keep it safe.