How to File a Cybercrime Complaint in Pakistan: NCCIA/FIA Guide

Filing a cybercrime complaint in Pakistan is the right move if you face online harassment, blackmail, fake profiles, hacking, or financial fraud. One important update: in 2025, the FIA Cyber Crime Wing was replaced by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) — so you now complain to the NCCIA, though most people still search for "FIA cybercrime complaint," and the process is essentially the same.

Quick answer: File your cybercrime complaint free at the NCCIA portal (complaint.nccia.gov.pk), by email to the NCCIA helpdesk, or in person at a Cybercrime Reporting Centre with your CNIC, a written statement, and screenshots of the offence. Online harassment and blackmail are punishable under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

What Counts as Cybercrime Under PECA 2016?

  • Online harassment and blackmail — threats, doctored images, or demanding money (up to 3 years imprisonment)
  • Sharing private images/videos without consent — up to 5–7 years imprisonment, non-bailable
  • Hacking and unauthorized access — 3–7 years depending on severity
  • Fake profiles and impersonation — criminal offence
  • Financial fraud, phishing, and identity theft
  • Spreading false information online

Before You File: Preserve Your Evidence

Evidence decides these cases. Do this before the harasser deletes anything:

  1. Screenshot everything — chats, posts, profiles, threats (with visible dates and URLs)
  2. Save URLs and profile links of fake accounts
  3. Do not delete the harassing messages — they are your proof
  4. Record call logs if threats came by phone
  5. Keep transaction receipts for financial fraud
  6. Note dates and times of each incident

How to File: Three Ways

Option 1: Online (fastest)

  1. Go to the NCCIA complaint portal (complaint.nccia.gov.pk).
  2. Register with your name, CNIC, and contact details.
  3. Select the crime category (harassment, hacking, fraud, etc.).
  4. Write a clear description: what happened, when, and who is involved.
  5. Upload screenshots and evidence files.
  6. Submit and save your complaint reference number for tracking.

Option 2: Email

Send a detailed complaint with your name, CNIC, contact number, a clear description of the crime, and attached evidence to the NCCIA/FIA cybercrime helpdesk email. Keep a copy of the sent email.

Option 3: In person

Visit the nearest Cybercrime Reporting Centre (in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and other major cities) with your CNIC, a written application, and printed evidence. In-person filing gets more attention for urgent or sensitive cases — especially blackmail involving private images.

What Happens After You File?

  • You receive a complaint number for tracking.
  • An investigation officer is assigned; you may be called to record a statement.
  • Straightforward cases typically see a response within 7–15 working days; urgent cases (threats, child exploitation) can get action within 24 hours.
  • If the evidence supports it, an FIR is registered under PECA and the accused can be arrested.

Protect Yourself While the Case Runs

  • Block the harasser on all platforms — but only after saving evidence
  • Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication everywhere
  • Tell a trusted person what's happening; don't face blackmail alone
  • Never pay blackmailers — payment never ends blackmail, it funds more of it

Common Mistakes

  • Deleting the harassing messages in panic — destroying your own evidence
  • Waiting months to complain — digital trails go cold
  • Filing without evidence — vague complaints without screenshots stall
  • Paying the blackmailer or negotiating with them directly
  • Sharing the harasser's posts publicly — let the investigators handle it