Search results for FIA cybercrime contact details are full of outdated numbers and, worse, fake ones posted by the very people running the scams. This page explains which channels are genuine, how to verify an office before you travel to it, and what to take with you when you go.
The official channels
| Channel | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Helpline 1991 | Urgent matters, live blackmail threats, being routed to the right centre |
| FIA online complaint portal | Filing from anywhere including overseas, with evidence uploads |
| Cybercrime reporting centre | Serious matters, producing devices, giving a full statement |
| fia.gov.pk | Verifying any address, number or portal link before you use it |
Verify before you dial. Fraudsters publish fake "FIA cybercrime helpline" numbers, then pose as officers and ask victims for money, CNIC details or OTPs to "process the case". The FIA does not charge to register a complaint and will never ask for an OTP. Take contact details from the official domain only.
Where the reporting centres are
FIA operates cybercrime reporting centres in major cities across the country, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Abbottabad, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Dera Ismail Khan, Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, among others.
Specific street addresses, room numbers and direct lines change as offices relocate and expand, which is precisely why this guide does not reproduce a list that would be stale within months. Instead:
- Go to fia.gov.pk and open the cybercrime or NR3C section.
- Find the centre listed for your city or the nearest one.
- Call before travelling to confirm the address, the timings and whether that centre handles your category of complaint.
Which centre handles your complaint is usually driven by where the offence or the complainant is located. Our guide on which regional office handles your complaint goes into how that is worked out.
What to take with you
- Original CNIC and a photocopy.
- Printed evidence - screenshots showing URLs, handles, dates and times.
- The device itself, with the original messages still on it and not deleted.
- A written timeline of events in date order.
- Financial records for fraud - transaction IDs, amounts, receiving accounts.
- A short written application setting out the complaint, which speeds things up considerably.
Ask for an acknowledgement or complaint number before you leave, and note the date and the officer's name.
Other channels worth using in parallel
- The platform. Report the account or content directly to Meta, TikTok, X or YouTube. This is usually the fastest route to a takedown.
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. PTA maintains a complaint channel for certain categories of unlawful online content.
- Your bank. Where money has moved, the bank's fraud channel is time-critical and should be used immediately, not after the FIA complaint. See bank fraud and OTP scams.
- Banking Mohtasib. Where a bank has handled a fraud complaint unsatisfactorily.
These are complementary. A platform takedown removes the content; only the FIA route holds a person to account.
How fake FIA helpline numbers work
This is worth understanding in detail, because the scam specifically targets people who have already been defrauded and are anxious to recover money.
The pattern runs like this. A victim searches for the FIA cybercrime helpline. A number published on a blog, a directory site or a social post appears high in the results. The victim calls it. The person answering is confident, uses official-sounding language, may quote a fake case or FIR number, and then asks for one of the following:
- A "processing", "case registration" or "urgent action" fee.
- CNIC front and back images "for verification".
- A one-time password, supposedly to "link your complaint".
- Remote access to your phone or computer to "check the malware".
All four are the attack. The FIA charges nothing to register a complaint, does not need your OTP, and does not require remote access to your device.
If you have already given a CNIC copy or an OTP to such a caller, treat it as a fresh incident: contact your bank immediately, watch for SIM-swap activity and unexpected password resets, and include the whole episode in your FIA complaint. Being defrauded twice in the same matter is common and is not something to be embarrassed about reporting.
Timings, languages and what to expect on the call
A few practical points that are rarely written down anywhere.
- Call during working hours where you can. Outside them you may reach a duty desk that can log the matter but not progress it. For a genuinely live threat, call regardless of the hour.
- You can speak Urdu or English. There is no requirement to file in English, and a complaint written in Urdu is not weaker. Regional languages are commonly understood at local centres.
- Have your facts ready before dialling - dates, handles, amounts, account numbers. The call is far more productive if you are reading from notes rather than recalling.
- Expect to be asked to file formally. The helpline routes and advises; a substantive investigation follows a written complaint through the portal or in person.
- Write down what you were told, including the time of the call and any reference given.
- Female complainants may ask for the matter to be handled by female staff where available, particularly in harassment and blackmail cases.
If you are calling about a threat to publish intimate images, say so explicitly at the start. That category is treated as urgent and it changes how the call is routed.
Choosing between the helpline, the portal and attending in person
| Situation | Best channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Live blackmail threat | Helpline 1991, then in person | Speed matters and the matter is sensitive |
| Money just left your account | Bank first, then portal | Only the bank can attempt a freeze in time |
| Impersonation account | Platform report, then portal | Takedown is faster through the platform |
| Hacked account, no money lost | Platform recovery, portal if unresolved | Recovery flows usually resolve it |
| Serious fraud with documents | In person | Devices and originals can be produced |
| You are overseas | Portal | No need to be in Pakistan |
Whichever you choose, obtain a reference. Our portal walkthrough explains how to write the complaint so that it is actionable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FIA cybercrime helpline number in Pakistan?
1991. It is the official FIA cybercrime helpline and the right first call for urgent matters or to be directed to the correct regional reporting centre.
Where are the FIA cybercrime reporting centres?
FIA operates centres in major cities across all four provinces, Islamabad, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan. Confirm the current address on fia.gov.pk before travelling, as offices relocate.
Is the FIA cybercrime helpline free?
Registering a complaint with the FIA is free. Nobody from the FIA will ask you for a fee, an OTP or your card details. Treat any such request as a scam.
Can I file an FIA complaint without visiting an office?
Yes, through the FIA online complaint portal, which also allows evidence uploads. In-person filing is generally more effective for serious matters where devices need to be produced.
How do I know if an FIA number I found online is genuine?
Cross-check it against fia.gov.pk. Fake helpline numbers are published by fraudsters who then pose as officers to extract money or OTPs from victims.
Which office handles my complaint if the offender is in another city?
Jurisdiction generally follows where the offence or the complainant is located. File at the centre covering you and let the FIA route it internally rather than travelling to another city.
Sources & official references
- Federal Investigation Agency - official cybercrime wing pages, reporting centres and complaint facility
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority - complaint channel for unlawful online content
- Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 - the governing statute on the official Pakistan Code