How to report a scam in the UK (and what happens next)
Reporting a scam can feel pointless when you are upset, but it matters. It can help you get money back, it warns the companies being copied, and it feeds the national picture that police use to go after the gangs behind it. Here is who to contact, depending on what happened.
If you have lost money or shared bank details
Contact your bank first, and quickly. The fastest safe way is to dial 159, a free number that connects you straight to your bank’s fraud team. If you were tricked into sending a transfer, ask them to open a fraud claim, as many victims of this kind of scam are now entitled to be reimbursed.
Then report it to the police fraud service:
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk.
- Scotland: Police Scotland on 101.
Keep any reference numbers they give you.
If it was a scam text
Forward the message to 7726 (free). This reports it to your mobile network so they can block the source. Then delete it.
If it was a scam email
Forward it to the National Cyber Security Centre at report@phishing.gov.uk. They use these reports to get fake websites taken down.
If it was a scam phone call
Report the details to Action Fraud using the number above. Note the number that called you if you can, although scammers often fake these.
If it was a fake or copycat website
Report it to Action Fraud, and you can also report it to your browser maker so they can warn other users. Our checklist on how to check if a website is legit helps you avoid the next one.
If it was an investment or “too good to be true” offer
Check the firm on the Financial Conduct Authority’s ScamSmart tool and Warning List before you ever invest, and report dodgy offers to the FCA.
If it was a dodgy trader or faulty goods
Contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 for advice on your rights and next steps.
What happens after you report? You will not always get a personal update, because Action Fraud builds intelligence across thousands of reports rather than chasing each one individually. Your report still counts, and the reference number can support your bank claim.
Watch out for the second wave
Once you have been scammed once, your details may be sold on, and you can be targeted again. Be very wary of anyone who contacts you offering to recover your lost money for a fee. That is a common follow-up scam. If you are dealing with the aftermath right now, our guide on what to do if you’ve been scammed lays out the order to work through.
More in our scams and fraud section.