If your bank account has been suddenly frozen because of a cybercrime investigation, or if you have lost money in an online fraud, there is now a new system to help you.
Two grievance redressal systems, GRM and MRM, have been launched on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
The new system is designed to make it easier for people to get wrongly frozen bank accounts restored and recover money held during cybercrime investigations.
How to Unfreeze a Bank Account?
The Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) allows account holders to raise a complaint directly through their bank.
If your account has been put on hold or frozen during a cybercrime investigation, you can visit your concerned bank branch and submit a written application.
You will need to provide your KYC documents and other required papers.
The bank will check your documents and review the transactions in your account.
After this verification, the bank will send a report to the police team investigating the cybercrime case.
The police may investigate the matter further and could ask you for additional documents or information.
Once the investigation is completed, you will be informed about the decision.
If the account was frozen by mistake or there is no valid reason to keep it on hold, the account can be restored.
How Can Cyber Fraud Victims Get Their Money Back?
People who have lost money in a cyber fraud can also apply online to recover their funds.
First, you need to file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
After filing the complaint, visit the MRM portal using your phone or computer.
You will need your 14-digit complaint number. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and select the option to submit a refund request.
The victim must also provide a photo of their PAN card and bank account details.
If there is a court order or any other relevant document related to the case, it can also be uploaded with the application.
Two Levels of Verification Before Refund
The refund is not processed immediately after the application is submitted.
According to the information shared by Bihar Cyber Crime and Security Unit DIG Akash Kumar, the authorities conduct verification before releasing the money.
A seven-day investigation is carried out at the police station level, followed by another seven-day verification at the bank level.
After the required checks are completed, the money held in the accused person’s account can be returned to the victim’s bank account.
What This New System Means for People
The new GRM and MRM systems are expected to make the process easier for both cyber fraud victims and people whose bank accounts have been wrongly frozen.
Earlier, people could face difficulties in approaching different authorities to resolve such issues.
Now, account holders can raise complaints through their bank, while cyber fraud victims can submit refund requests online using their NCRP complaint details.
This could make the recovery process more structured and help eligible victims get their money back within the prescribed process.