Legal Help · Published August 4, 2026
How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint in Pakistan
Blackmail, fraud, a hacked account, harassment that won't stop — cybercrime in Pakistan has a real reporting process behind it, even when the exact agency name keeps shifting. Here's how to actually navigate it.
Quick answer
Cybercrime in Pakistan is governed by the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Investigation responsibility has shifted over time from FIA's Cyber Crime Wing toward the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under later amendments — confirm the current official agency and complaint portal before you file. Preserve your evidence (screenshots, transaction records, contact details) immediately, file through the official channel with your CNIC, and keep your complaint reference number for follow-up.
The reporting process, step by step
1. Know which agency handles it
Cybercrime complaints in Pakistan are handled under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which has been amended over time to reshape the investigating authority — historically FIA's Cyber Crime Wing, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) established to take on this role under later amendments. Naming and structure has shifted more than once, so before you file, confirm the current designated agency and its official complaint channel rather than relying on an old bookmark.
2. Preserve evidence before you report
Take screenshots of the offending content, message, or transaction — including URLs, timestamps, phone numbers, and account names — before the other party has a chance to delete anything. For financial fraud, save transaction IDs, bank statements, and any payment confirmation. Evidence quality is usually the single biggest factor in how fast a cybercrime complaint moves.
3. File through the official complaint channel
Complaints are generally filed online through the designated cybercrime complaint portal, or in person at a Cyber Crime Reporting Centre / regional cybercrime circle office (major cities including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and others have dedicated circles). You'll typically need your CNIC, a description of the incident, and your evidence attached or referenced.
4. Use the helpline for urgent matters
For urgent situations — ongoing harassment, active financial fraud, or child safety concerns — a phone helpline is usually faster than the online form for getting immediate guidance on what to do while your written complaint is processed. Keep a record of the date, time, and reference number of any helpline call.
5. Get a complaint or FIR number and track it
Once your complaint is registered, you should receive a complaint or case reference number — this is what you'll use to follow up. If the matter is serious enough to warrant an FIR (registered under Section 154 CrPC for a cognizable offence under PECA or the Pakistan Penal Code), ask explicitly whether one has been or will be registered.
6. Understand what counts as a cybercrime offence
PECA 2016 covers offences including unauthorized access to data or systems, electronic fraud, cyberstalking and harassment, identity theft, and the unlawful distribution of a person's private images — often overlapping with related Pakistan Penal Code provisions. Which specific offence applies affects both which evidence matters most and what remedy is realistic.
Evidence to gather before you file
- Screenshots of messages, posts, or the fraudulent listing/page — with visible timestamps and usernames or URLs.
- Transaction IDs, bank statements, or payment app records for any financial loss.
- The phone number, email, or account handle used to contact or deceive you.
- A written, dated timeline of events in your own words, before memory fades.
- Copies of any prior communication where you asked the other party to stop or return money.
What Wakeel.org can help with
Organizing your evidence into a clear timeline, explaining PECA terms like electronic fraud or cyberstalking in plain English or Urdu, and helping you draft a clear written account before you file.
What it cannot do
It cannot submit the complaint for you, contact the investigating agency, or guarantee any outcome. File and track your case through the official government channel directly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I file an FIA cyber crime complaint online in Pakistan?
Cybercrime complaints are filed through the official online complaint portal of the agency currently designated under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 — historically FIA's Cyber Crime Wing, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) established under later amendments to take on this role. Because agency names and portals have changed more than once, search for the current official government cybercrime complaint site rather than an older cached link, and have your CNIC and evidence ready before you start the form.
What is the NCCIA and how is it different from FIA's Cyber Crime Wing?
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) was established under amendments to PECA 2016 to take over cybercrime investigation responsibilities that were previously handled by FIA's Cyber Crime Wing. Both names circulate in public use during this kind of transition, which is exactly why it's worth confirming the current official agency and portal before filing, rather than assuming either name is still accurate.
How do I check the status of an FIA or NCCIA cybercrime complaint?
Keep the complaint or case reference number you're given when you first file — this is what any status inquiry, whether by phone helpline or online tracking tool, will ask for. If you weren't given a reference number, contact the office where you filed and ask for one; without it, following up is much harder.
What evidence do I need for a cyber crime complaint in Pakistan?
Screenshots with visible timestamps and usernames or URLs, transaction records for any financial loss, the contact details used by the offending party, and a written timeline of events in your own words. The more specific and dated your evidence is, the faster an investigator can act on it.
Can Wakeel.org help me prepare a cyber crime complaint?
Wakeel.org can help you organize your evidence into a clear timeline, explain terms like 'electronic fraud' or 'cyberstalking' under PECA in plain English or Urdu, and help you draft a clear written account of what happened before you file. It cannot submit the complaint on your behalf, contact the investigating agency for you, or guarantee any outcome — always file through the official government channel and verify current procedure directly with them.
General educational information, not legal advice. Cybercrime reporting agencies, portals, and procedure in Pakistan have changed more than once — always verify the current official channel directly before filing. See our full disclaimer.
Dealing with online harassment or fraud?
Organize your evidence and get a clear written account ready before you file — in English or Urdu.