Step one: read it, don't fear it

An FIA notice is usually a call for inquiry, not an arrest warrant. It names a complaint number, the alleged offence, and a date to appear. Ignoring it is the single worst option — non-appearance gets noted, and the inquiry proceeds without your version on record. Panicking is the second worst; people delete chats, deactivate accounts and destroy the very evidence that could exonerate them.

Preserve everything, touch nothing

Screenshot the relevant conversations with URLs, dates and profile links visible. Export chat backups. Save transaction receipts for any financial allegation. Then stop: do not message the complainant, do not post explanations online, and do not hand your phone to anyone without legal advice. Anything you delete after receiving notice can be read against you.

Know which section you're facing

Most notices cite the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. The common ones: Section 20 (offences against the dignity of a person — online defamation), Section 21 (offences against modesty — non-consensual images or information), and Section 24 (cyberstalking). Each carries different punishment and, crucially, different bail exposure. Your response strategy starts from the exact sections invoked.

Never walk in alone

You are entitled to consult counsel before and during the inquiry. A lawyer's written reply on record — admitting nothing, committing to nothing, but cooperating on procedure — protects you far better than an emotional verbal explanation. In our practice, a precise first response has closed many inquiries at the notice stage itself.

If you are the victim

The same law protects you. Fake profiles, blackmail, non-consensual image sharing and OTP fraud are all punishable — but only if reported with preserved evidence. File the complaint with URLs, screenshots and transaction trails attached; vague complaints get vague results.