Scam or unwanted calls and texts
Forward scam texts to 7726, free. Do not reply or call back.
Where do you live? England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland All of the UK
Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud)
The national police reporting service for fraud and cyber crime, run by City of London Police; replaced Action Fraud.
Use it when: You have lost money, been hacked or been defrauded and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland (in Scotland, call 101).
Report to them Call 0300 123 2040 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week; reduced availability 8pm to 8am) Call Textphone 0300 123 2050 Call From abroad +44 300 123 2040 Website
Covers England, Wales, Northern Ireland. Free.
Consumerline (Northern Ireland)
The Northern Ireland government's consumer advice and complaints service, which also takes fraud and scam reports.
Use it when: You live in Northern Ireland and have a problem with a trader or want to report a scam.
Report to them Call 0300 123 6262 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Friday, except bank and public holidays) Website
Covers Northern Ireland. Free.
HMRC: report tax scams
HMRC's channels for reporting emails, texts and calls that pretend to come from HMRC.
Use it when: You got a message or call claiming to be from HMRC about a tax refund, debt or arrest.
Report to them Text: 60599 (forward suspicious texts; charged at your network rate) phishing@hmrc.gov.uk Website
Covers the whole UK.
11 more organisations that can help
Stop! Think Fraud
The UK government's anti-fraud advice campaign, run with City of London Police, the NCSC and the NCA.
Use it when: You want plain guidance on spotting, avoiding and recovering from scams.
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Ofcom: silent, abandoned and nuisance calls
The communications regulator; it collects complaints about silent, abandoned and premium-rate scam calls and uses them for enforcement.
Use it when: You keep getting silent or abandoned calls, or were scammed through a 0871, 070 or 09 number; for other scam calls tell Report Fraud.
Report to them Call 0300 123 3333 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm) Call 020 7981 3040 Call Welsh language 0300 123 2023 Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
ICO: nuisance calls, spam texts and emails
The ICO's reporting route for unwanted marketing calls, spam texts and spam emails, which it uses to take enforcement action.
Use it when: A company keeps sending you marketing calls, texts or emails you did not agree to.
Report to them Call 0303 123 1113 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
7726 spam text reporting
A free short code run by mobile networks: forward a scam or spam text to 7726 so your provider can investigate and block the sender.
Use it when: You received a suspicious or unwanted text message on your mobile.
Text: 7726 Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
The free official register to opt out of unsolicited sales and marketing calls, with a free complaint service.
Use it when: You get unwanted sales calls on a landline or mobile; register your number and complain about callers who ignore it.
Report to them Call TPS registration 0345 070 0707 Call 0207 291 3320 tps@dma.org.uk Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Mailing Preference Service (MPS)
The free official register to opt out of unsolicited addressed direct-marketing post; it does not stop overseas or 'Occupier' mail.
Use it when: You want less addressed marketing post; registration can take up to three months to take full effect.
Report to them Call 020 7291 3310 (queries and registration) mps@dma.org.uk Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Royal Mail: report a scam
Royal Mail's address for reporting fake delivery emails, texts, calls and websites that use its name.
Use it when: You got a fake 'missed parcel' or delivery-fee message claiming to be from Royal Mail.
Report to them Text: 7726 (forward the text) reportascam@royalmail.com Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
TV Licensing: report a scam
TV Licensing's guidance on fake licence emails and texts, with an address for screenshots of scam texts.
Use it when: You got an email or text about a TV Licence refund, failed payment or expiry that you think is fake.
textscams@tvlicensing.co.uk Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
159 (Stop Scams UK)
A short number that connects you safely to your own bank; it covers more than 99% of UK retail bank current accounts.
Use it when: You get an unexpected call about money or your bank account: hang up and call 159 to reach your bank.
Call 159 Website
Covers the whole UK.
Take Five to Stop Fraud (UK Finance)
A UK Finance campaign with advice to stop, challenge and protect yourself against financial fraud.
Use it when: You want to check a request for money or details, or need to know what to do after a scam (call your bank first).
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Which? scam alerts
Consumer charity Which? sends email alerts about scams doing the rounds and collects scam reports from the public.
Use it when: You want to hear about current scams, or share details of one to warn others.
Covers the whole UK.
Prepare what to say
Most of these organisations need you to report it yourself. Answer what you can and Dupath will write a short, clear statement for you to copy into their form. Nothing you type here is kept.
Dupath is not part of the police or any of these organisations, and does not report on your behalf.