If you’ve been the victim of a financial scam in the UK, act as quickly as possible:
1. Contact Your Bank or Payment Provider Immediately
- Call your bank’s fraud department.
- Explain what happened and ask them to:
- Freeze affected accounts if necessary.
- Stop pending payments.
- Attempt to recover transferred funds.
- Issue new cards if card details were compromised.
2. Secure Your Accounts
- Change passwords for banking, email, and any accounts that may have been affected.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where available.
- Check for unauthorized transactions.
3. Report the Scam
Report it to the UK’s national fraud reporting service:
You can also call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
4. If Personal Information Was Stolen
- Contact the UK’s credit reference agencies and consider adding a fraud alert:
- Monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity.
5. Report Suspicious Messages
Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
Forward phishing emails to:
UK Government Suspicious Email Reporting Service
6. Keep Evidence
Save:
- Emails, texts, and messages.
- Screenshots.
- Transaction records.
- Names, phone numbers, websites, and account details used by the scammer.
7. Watch for Recovery Scams
Be cautious of anyone claiming they can recover your money for a fee. Scammers often target previous victims.
If Money Was Sent by Bank Transfer
Under the UK’s Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud reimbursement rules, many victims may be eligible for reimbursement in certain circumstances. Ask your bank specifically about an APP fraud claim and their reimbursement process.
