Scammed

Dear Client,
In the given scenario, you have to lodge a complaint/FIR against the HT media and shine.com at the local police station under Section 308(extortion of money), Sec.318(cheating) and Sec.351(criminal intimidation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita(BNS) with whatever digital evidence you have and additionally report the matter online at https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/ to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal(NCCRP), an initiative of the Government of India to facilitate victims/ complainants to report cybercrime scams or complaints online. Once a cybercrime scam is reported online to NCCRP, on the instruction of the Cyber Crime Cell, the investigating team starts the routine process of investigation immediately into the reported scam. The length of time it takes to investigate a cybercrime can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the case, the resources available to the investigators, and the cooperation of the victim. You can access the status of your complaint online at https://www.cybercrime.gov.in. You may consult with a cyber crime expert or an Advocate handling cyber laws for further guidance and suitable steps. Apart from this, you can also file a private complaint against the fraudsters in the court of the Magistrate under Section 223 of BNSS which outlines the procedure for a Magistrate to take cognizance of an offence. The section begins with the requirement that any person who desires the Magistrate to take cognizance of an offence must present a written complaint or information. A magistrate taking cognizance of an offence on a complaint shall examine upon oath the complainant and witnesses present if any and the substance of such examination shall be reduced into writing and shall be signed by the complainant and witnesses and also by the magistrate to initiate the onward proceedings into the complaint based on its merit. You may consult with a cyber crime expert or an Advocate handling cyber laws for further guidance and suitable steps.

Dear Client,
Gather all the evidences in correspondence with Shine.com or HT Media. Send a formal complaint to Shine.com and HT Media, stating your grievances and demanding a full refund. File an online complaint with the National Consumer Helpline in India. You can also approach the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum if Shine.com/HT Media does not resolve the issue. Since this involves a significant financial loss and possibly fraudulent activity, file a complaint with the Cybercrime Department. You can do this through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. If you made payments other than cash, contact your bank and request a chargeback for the fraudulent transactions. Explain the situation and provide all necessary documentation. If your requests for a refund are ignored, send a legal notice to Shine.com and HT Media and state for immediate refund of money to avoid legal consequences. We hope that our response is helpful to you.