Pig butchering scam complaint process and documents

By Advocate Panchanand Shaw, Bar Council of West Bengal · Published 2 Nov 2026 · Court process

A pig butchering scam complaint starts with a call to 1930 and an FIR under Section 173 of the BNSS 2023. You need payment receipts, bank statements, chat logs, and screenshots of the fake platform. The complaint triggers a police investigation and a bank freeze. If the police refuse to register the FIR, you can approach the Magistrate under Section 175(3) of the BNSS. The complaint is the first formal step towards recovering your money and prosecuting the fraudster.

Pig butchering scams are long-term frauds where the criminal builds a relationship with the victim before introducing a fake investment platform. By the time the victim realises the scam, the money has often been moved through multiple accounts. A well-documented complaint helps the police trace the funds and build a case. The complaint must include all relevant details, including the dates, amounts, and the scammer's contact information. It should also include the evidence you have preserved, such as chat logs and transaction records.

What the law says

The legal framework for filing a pig butchering scam complaint involves the BNSS 2023, the BNS 2023, and the IT Act 2000. Section 173 of the BNSS allows a police officer to register an FIR for a cognizable offence. The offence of cheating under Section 318 of the BNS is cognizable, which means the police must register an FIR if the complaint discloses a prima facie case. Section 316 of the BNS covers criminal breach of trust. Under the IT Act 2000, Section 66D punishes cheating by personation using a computer resource. Section 66C addresses identity theft, which is common in pig butchering scams where the fraudster uses a fake profile.

If the police refuse to register the FIR, Section 175(3) of the BNSS empowers the victim to file a complaint before the Magistrate. The Magistrate can examine the complaint and direct the police to investigate. Section 35 of the BNSS requires the police to inform the complainant about the progress of the investigation. The BSA 2023 Section 63 governs the admissibility of electronic records. The complaint should include a certificate under Section 63 for the electronic evidence, such as chat logs and screenshots. This certificate explains how the evidence was obtained and confirms that it has not been altered.

The RBI circulars on unauthorised electronic transactions also apply. If the victim reports the fraud promptly, the bank may be liable to compensate for the loss. The complaint should mention the RBI circular and request the bank to freeze the beneficiary account. The bank's nodal officer is the point of contact for cyber fraud complaints. The complaint should be submitted in writing and acknowledged by the bank.

Step-by-step complaint process

Follow these steps to file a pig butchering scam complaint. The process is straightforward, but it requires attention to detail.

1. Call the 1930 helpline. Call 1930, the national cybercrime helpline, and register your complaint. Provide your name, contact details, the amount lost, the date of the transaction, and the scammer's details. The helpline will give you a complaint number. Save this number for future reference. You can also file an online complaint on cybercrime.gov.in.
2. Inform your bank's nodal officer. Contact your bank and ask to speak to the nodal officer for cyber fraud. Submit a written complaint with the transaction details and the 1930 complaint number. Request the bank to freeze the beneficiary account and initiate a chargeback. Keep a copy of the complaint and the acknowledgement.
3. Draft a written complaint for the police. Write a detailed complaint that explains how the scam unfolded. Include the dates, amounts, the scammer's profile details, and the platform's URL. Attach copies of the payment receipts, bank statements, chat logs, and screenshots. Sign the complaint and keep a copy for yourself.
4. File an FIR at the police station. Visit the police station with jurisdiction over the area where the offence occurred. Submit the written complaint and request the police to register an FIR under Section 173 of the BNSS. The police should give you a copy of the FIR and an acknowledgement. If they refuse, ask for the refusal in writing.
5. Approach the Magistrate if the police refuse. If the police do not register the FIR, file a complaint before the Magistrate under Section 175(3) of the BNSS. Attach the written complaint and the evidence. The Magistrate can direct the police to investigate the matter. This step is important because it ensures that the case is not ignored.
6. Follow up with the cyber crime cell. After filing the FIR, follow up with the cyber crime cell to track the investigation. Provide any additional evidence you find. Keep a record of all communications with the police. If the investigation is slow, you can file an application before the Magistrate for a progress report.

Documents you need

The following table lists the documents required for a pig butchering scam complaint and their purpose.

The table above shows that the documents serve different purposes. The payment receipts and bank statements prove the financial loss. The chat logs and website screenshots prove the fraud. The scammer's details help the police trace the offender. The Section 63 certificate ensures that the electronic evidence is admissible in court. You should keep copies of all documents and submit the originals only when required.

What happens after filing

After you file the complaint, the police will register an FIR and begin the investigation. They may contact you for additional details or evidence. The cyber crime cell will trace the bank accounts and identify the beneficiary. If the funds are still in the account, the police can request the bank to freeze them. The investigation may take time, especially if the fraudster is operating from another state or country. You should cooperate fully with the investigation and provide any information you have.

The bank will also process your complaint under the RBI circular. If the bank finds that the transaction was unauthorised, it may refund the amount. However, pig butchering scams often involve voluntary transfers, which makes the bank's liability more complex. The bank may argue that you authorised the transfer. In such cases, the FIR and the cybercrime complaint become crucial evidence of the fraudulent nature of the transaction. A cyber crime lawyer in Kolkata can help you present this evidence to the bank and the court.

If the police fail to investigate properly, you can file an application before the Magistrate under Section 175(3) of the BNSS. The Magistrate can direct the police to submit a progress report or take specific investigative steps. You can also approach the Superintendent of Police or the cyber crime cell headquarters if the local police station is unresponsive. A lawyer can help you navigate these options and ensure that your complaint is taken seriously.

What decides the outcome

Several factors influence the outcome of a pig butchering scam complaint. The most important is the speed of reporting. If you report the fraud within the first few hours or days, the bank and cybercrime authorities have a better chance of freezing the funds. Another crucial factor is the quality of evidence. The chat logs, transaction records, and screenshots must be complete and authentic. Without clear evidence, it becomes difficult to establish the fraud.

The jurisdiction of the case also matters. Pig butchering scams often involve multiple jurisdictions, including the location of the victim, the fraudster, and the bank. The fraudster may be operating from another country, which complicates the investigation. However, the IT Act 2000 and BNSS 2023 provide mechanisms for dealing with cross-jurisdictional cyber crimes. The RBI circulars on unauthorised transactions also play a role in determining bank liability. If the bank failed to act promptly after your report, you may have a strong claim for compensation.

Finally, the willingness of the police to investigate and the availability of resources affect the case. Cyber crime cells in major cities, including Kolkata, have dedicated teams for financial fraud. A cyber crime lawyer in Kolkata can help you navigate these forums effectively.

Documents that are often overlooked

Most complainants gather the obvious papers and stop there, but the strength of a pig butchering complaint often turns on documents that are easy to miss. Ask your bank for a certified statement covering the full period of the fraud, not just the month of the largest transfer, because the smaller early transfers are what prove the relationship and the pattern. If you paid through a payment aggregator or wallet, request the transaction ledger from that provider as well. Where the fraudster sent you a wallet address or an exchange account, note it in the complaint; the cyber crime cell can use it to trace the onward movement of funds.

Also preserve the profile that first contacted you. The phone number, the messaging-app handle, the email address, and the photograph used are all identifiers the police can act on, and they form part of the identity-theft allegation under Section 66C of the IT Act 2000. Take screenshots of the profile page, not only the chat, because a profile can be deleted within hours.

Common mistakes to avoid

Many victims make mistakes that harm their case. The most common is delaying the report. Fraudsters often move money quickly, so every hour counts. Another mistake is deleting chats or emails that could serve as evidence. Some victims also pay more money to the scammer in the hope of recovering their initial investment, which only increases the loss. It is also a mistake to confront the scammer directly or try to negotiate without legal advice. Finally, some victims do not file an FIR and rely only on the bank's complaint process. A criminal FIR is essential for a thorough investigation and for pursuing criminal charges.

When to involve a lawyer

You should involve a cyber crime lawyer in Kolkata as soon as you realise you have been scammed. A lawyer can help you file the FIR correctly, draft the complaint, and prepare the Section 63 certificate. They can also represent you in proceedings before the Magistrate and the civil court. If the police are unresponsive, a lawyer can file a complaint under Section 175(3) of the BNSS. For victims in West Bengal, a cyber crime lawyer in West Bengal can provide local expertise and navigate the Kolkata courts. You can also explore bail options if you are falsely accused in a related matter. Early legal advice can prevent costly mistakes and improve your chances of a successful outcome.

Frequently asked questions

Information for general guidance only and not legal advice. Provisions cited follow the Information Technology Act 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023.

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