If a phone is stolen or lost, it’s mandatory to file an FIR. In many cases, this can be a lost article report (LART) instead of an FIR. However, people often shy away from going to the police station for this purpose. Fortunately, you can file an FIR online from your phone, sitting at home. This is called an e-FIR.
It’s important to note that filing an e-FIR is also crucial to ensure your stolen or lost phone is not used for any illegal purpose. Additionally, an FIR or e-FIR is required to obtain a new SIM card or block a phone on the central government’s CEIR portal.
First, register on the police portal.
To file an e-FIR, you must first register on your state’s official police website. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, you can use the UPcop app or in Delhi, you can use the Delhi Police portal.
First-time registrants must create a new account using their name, active phone number, and identity card details.
How to File an e-FIR
- After creating an account and logging into the portal, you must select the Lost Report or e-FIR option.
- You must then provide details of the incident, such as the exact date and time and the possible location.
- You must also provide the phone’s brand and model, the lost mobile number, and the 15-digit IMEI.
- If you have the phone’s bill or box, you will receive this information immediately.
Don’t Forget to Save a Digital Copy
After filling in all the details and submitting the form, you will receive a reference or complaint number. A digitally signed receipt will also be sent to your email.
Keep a printout of this information safely, or save it as a soft copy in the cloud or on a drive.
Don’t Forget to Block Your Phone
- Once you receive the e-FIR receipt, you can also block your lost or stolen phone on the CEIR portal.
- To do this, go to the “Block Stolen or Lost Mobile” option on the CEIR portal and fill in your phone’s details.
- Upload a copy of the e-FIR.
- After this, your stolen handset will be blocked on all telecom networks across the country, and no one will be able to use it by inserting another SIM card, even if they want to.
