I've lost money or been scammed
Call your bank first, on the number on your card or 159, then report it.
Where do you live? England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
Police non-emergency (101), England and Wales
The non-emergency police number and online reporting for local police forces in England and Wales.
Use it when: You want to report a crime that is not an emergency, such as stalking, harassment, threats or image-based abuse.
Report to them Call 101 Call Textphone 18001 101 Website
Covers England, Wales.
Police Scotland
Scotland's police service; it also takes reports of fraud and cyber crime from people living in Scotland.
Use it when: You live in Scotland and want to report a crime, including fraud, scams, stalking, harassment or online abuse.
Report to them Call 999 (emergency) Call 101 (non-emergency) Call Relay UK 18001101 Website
Covers Scotland.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
Northern Ireland's police service, with phone and online reporting for non-emergency incidents.
Use it when: You live in Northern Ireland and want to report a crime; report fraud and cyber crime to Report Fraud.
Report to them Call 999 (emergency) Call 101 (non-emergency) Website
Covers Northern Ireland.
27 more organisations that can help
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.
City of London Police
The police force for the City of London and the national policing lead for economic crime; it runs Report Fraud.
Use it when: The incident happened in the City of London; for fraud anywhere else in England, Wales or Northern Ireland use Report Fraud.
Report to them Call 999 (emergency) Call 101 (non-emergency) Call Textphone 18001 101 Call SignVideo 020 8463 1120 Call From abroad +44 20 7601 2222 Website
Covers England.
National Crime Agency (NCA)
The UK's national law enforcement agency for serious and organised crime; members of the public report through local police or CEOP.
Use it when: Background only: the NCA asks the public to call 999 or 101 or use CEOP for child exploitation, not to report to it directly.
Covers the whole UK.
NCSC scam website reporting
An NCSC form for reporting websites you think are fake or fraudulent so they can be checked and taken down.
Use it when: You found a website pretending to be a real shop, bank, government service or person.
Covers the whole UK. 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.
Companies House: report misuse of your details
Companies House can remove your name or address from its register if a company used them without your permission.
Use it when: Someone has made you a director or used your home address for a company you know nothing about.
Covers the whole UK.
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.
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.
MoneyHelper (scams)
Free money guidance backed by the government's Money and Pensions Service, including how to spot and recover from scams.
Use it when: You want free guidance on a money or pension scam, or on what to do next after losing money.
Call 0800 011 3797 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA): warning list and scam reports
The financial regulator; its Warning List names unauthorised firms and you can report investment and other financial scams to it.
Use it when: You want to check an investment, loan or pension firm before paying, or report a firm you think is a scam.
Report to them Call 0800 111 6768 (freephone; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8am to 5pm; Thursday 8am to 9am and 10am to 5pm) Call 0300 500 8082 (from the UK) Call +44 207 066 1000 (calls from abroad) Call Relay UK (18001) 0207 066 1000 Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Financial Ombudsman Service
A free service that settles complaints between consumers and banks or other financial firms, including refused scam refunds.
Use it when: Your bank or payment firm refused to refund you after a scam, or did not answer your complaint within its deadline.
Report to them Call 0800 023 4567 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA): scam ad reporting
The advertising regulator's form for reporting scam adverts in paid online space, such as social media and search ads.
Use it when: You saw a paid online advert that is a scam, for example a fake celebrity endorsement or investment offer.
Report to them Call 020 7492 2222 (complaints, if you cannot use the online form) 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.
Get Safe Online
Free, impartial online safety advice, with tools to check whether a website or message is likely to be a scam.
Use it when: You want to check a website before buying, or learn how to protect your accounts and devices.
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Cifas Protective Registration
A paid flag on your name in the National Fraud Database so lenders make extra checks on applications in your name.
Use it when: Your identity documents or details have been stolen or misused and you want lenders to double-check applications.
Covers the whole UK.
Experian: identity fraud help
A credit reference agency; you can get your free statutory credit report and ask it to query fraudulent entries with lenders.
Use it when: Someone has applied for credit in your name, or you want to check your credit file for accounts you did not open.
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Equifax: identity fraud help
A credit reference agency; you can get your statutory credit report and raise a dispute about fraudulent information.
Use it when: You suspect accounts or searches on your Equifax credit report were made by someone using your identity.
Covers the whole UK.
TransUnion: identity fraud help
A credit reference agency; its consumer team handles credit report questions, disputes, fraud and identity theft.
Use it when: You want your TransUnion credit report, or to dispute an account or search you think is fraudulent.
Report to them Call 0330 024 7574 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm) UKConsumer@transunion.com Website
Covers the whole UK.
Crimestoppers
An independent charity that passes on information about crime anonymously; it never asks who you are.
Use it when: You know something about a crime or the person behind it and want to tell someone without giving your name.
Report to them Call 0800 555 111 (any time, day or night, any day of the year) Website
Covers the whole UK. Free.
Citizens Advice consumer helpline (and Trading Standards)
Free consumer advice for England and Wales; advisers pass scam and trader complaints to Trading Standards, which you cannot do yourself.
Use it when: You were scammed by a trader or website, or want to check whether something is a scam and get it passed to Trading Standards.
Report to them Call 0808 223 1133 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; closed on bank holidays) Call Welsh-speaking adviser 0808 223 1144 Call Relay UK 18001 then 0808 223 1133 Website
Covers England, Wales. Free.
Advice Direct Scotland (consumeradvice.scot)
Scotland's free consumer advice service; it takes scam reports and can pass them to Trading Standards Scotland.
Use it when: You live in Scotland and want consumer advice or to report a scam or rogue trader.
Report to them Call 0808 164 6000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) Website
Covers Scotland. 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.
Age UK Advice Line
Free, confidential advice for older people, their families and carers, including help after fraud.
Use it when: You or an older relative needs advice after a scam or on everyday problems; Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI cover other nations.
Call 0800 678 1602 (8am to 7pm, 365 days a year) Website
Covers England. Free.
Victim Support
An independent charity giving free, confidential support to anyone affected by crime in England and Wales, including fraud.
Use it when: You have been affected by any crime, including fraud or online abuse, whether or not you reported it to the police.
Report to them Call 08 08 16 89 111 (free, 24/7) Website
Covers England, Wales. Free.
Victim Support Scotland
Free support for people in Scotland affected by crime, by phone and webchat.
Use it when: You live in Scotland and have been affected by any crime, including fraud or online abuse.
Call 0800 160 1985 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday) Website
Covers Scotland. Free.
Victim Support NI
Free, confidential support for people in Northern Ireland affected by crime, including scams and cyber crime.
Use it when: You live in Northern Ireland and have been affected by crime, including a scam.
Call 02890 243133 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) Website
Covers Northern Ireland. Free.
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.