Section 66D (IT ACT, 2000) – Online cheating or fraud

Information Technology Act, 2000

Section 66D – Online cheating or fraud (impersonation)

🔹 Short Note (Hindi)

Section 66D un logon ke liye hai jo internet par kisi aur ban kar logon ko cheating, fraud ya trap karte hain. Chahe fake identity, duplicate profile, bank official ban kar call karna, ya online scam ho — sab is section me aata hai.

🔹 Detailed Explanation (English + Hindi)

Section 66D IT Act digital impersonation aur online cheating ko punish karta hai. Agar koi person kisi aur ki identity use karke ya fake identity create karke kisi ko bewakoof, mislead, ya financial fraud karta hai, to wo guilty hota hai.

Isme include hota hai:

• Fake bank representative ban kar OTP/UPI fraud
• Online shopping scam websites
• Lottery, job, loan ya investment fraud
• Social media impersonation for cheating
• Phishing calls, messages, emails
• Fake digital identity se money demand

🔹 Main Conditions

Section 66D tab lagu hota hai jab:

1. Fake identity use ki jaye
2. Online platform, message, email, call ke through fraud ho
3. Victim ko cheat ya mislead kiya jaye
4. Monetary loss ya gain ka intention ho
5. Impersonation (kisi aur ke naam par act karna) kiya jaye

🔹 Legal Meaning (Simple Terms)

“Agar koi internet ya digital platform par kisi aur ban kar fraud kare, paise le, ya kisi ko dhokha de, to wo Section 66D ke under punishable hai — chahe identity fake ho ya stolen.”

🔹 Example

1. Koi bank employee ban kar call kare aur OTP mangkar paise nikaal le
2. Fake matrimonial profile se logon se money demand ho
3. Seller ban kar advance payment lekar product deliver na kare
4. Fake Instagram ya WhatsApp account se fraud donations collect ho
5. Online loan ya job scam jisme identity impersonation ho

🔹 Key Legal Points

• Digital impersonation + cheating = Section 66D
• Fraud chahe small ho ya large, punishable hai
• Often Section 419, 420 IPC ke saath apply hota hai
• Cyber Cell investigation ke liye logs, IP, chat proofs use karta hai

🔹 Punishment:

✔ Jail up to 3 years
✔ Fine up to ₹1 lakh
✔ Ya dono

🔹 Nyay Neeti Advice

Agar:

• Aapke naam se koi account bana ho
• Online fraud ho gaya ho
• Kisi ne impersonation karke paise liye ho
• Scam call, mail, message mila ho

To:

1. Cyber Crime Portal par turant complaint karein
2. FIR me Section 66D mention karna na bhulein
3. Screenshots, chats, transaction proofs save karein
4. Bank/UPI/block request turant karein

Kabhi OTP, PIN, password, ya ID details share na karein — chahe koi bhi ban kar call kare.

🔹 Summary Table