Online harassment and stalking: what to do

Step by step

1. 1

   Block and report on the platform

   Every major app and platform has its own option to block a user and to report harassment, abusive messages or stalking. Use it on the app where it happened: the messaging app, the social media platform, or the game or forum.

   This is the fastest way to stop that person contacting you on that app. It doesn't by itself create a police or government record, so also do the steps below if the harassment continues or you want it on record.

2. 2

   Report it on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal

   Open the portal, choose "Register a Complaint", then "Other Cyber Crime". That covers online and social media harassment and stalking.

   Choose "Women/Children Related Crime" instead only if it involves sexually explicit content or child sexual abuse material.

   • Sign in with your name and mobile number, and verify with the OTP.
   • Describe what happened in detail: what was said or done, on which app, and how often.
   • Upload your screenshots, and a photo of an ID (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, driving licence or passport).
   • Submit. You'll get an acknowledgement number by SMS and email. Keep it.

   cybercrime.gov.in ↗Not working?
3. 3

   Report straight to the platform, with an official link

   The cyber crime portal also lists direct reporting links for the platforms themselves, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, YouTube, Telegram and Google. Use these if the in-app report option is hard to find or isn't working.

   cybercrime.gov.in ↗Not working?
4. 4

   Go to the police if it continues, or you feel unsafe

   Stalking is a specific offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: a man who follows a woman and keeps contacting her despite her clear disinterest, or who monitors her use of the internet, email or other electronic communication, commits the offence of stalking. A first conviction can mean up to 3 years in prison and a fine; a later conviction up to 5 years and a fine.

   Other kinds of persistent online harassment and threats, even where this particular provision doesn't apply, are also offences you can report to the police.

   You can register a cyber crime complaint or an e-FIR on the Uttarakhand Police citizen portal, or go to your local police station. Take your screenshots and the cyber crime portal acknowledgement number with you.

   policecitizenportal.uk.gov.in ↗Not working?
5. 5

   Women can also complain to the National Commission for Women

   The National Commission for Women takes complaints by phone, 24 hours, or online. It gives the complaint a number, checks it, and can take it up with the police or the state authorities concerned.

   ncwapps.nic.in ↗Not working?

   Call 14490Not working?
6. 6

   In Uttarakhand, there's a local number too

   The Uttarakhand Police women's helpline is another number to call for local support.

   Call 94111 12780Not working?

Watch out

• Anyone who contacts you offering to get the harasser "caught", "traced" or "blocked" for a fee is not a government service. The cyber crime portal, the NCW and the police don't charge for any of this.
• Don't delete the harassing messages, calls or posts, even after you've blocked the person. The screenshots and the account or number details are what the portal, the platform and the police need.
• If this is about morphed or private photos, or someone demanding money over them, the first steps are different: see the guide for morphed or private photos shared or the sextortion guide.