Financial Fraud & Scams: How to Recognise, Report and Protect Yourself

Scammers are constantly refining their methods, but understanding their common tactics makes it much easier to keep your money and personal details secure. Protecting yourself starts with recognising the warning signs of fraud before any damage occurs.

Be suspicious of any unexpected phone call, email, or text message that creates a sense of urgency. Fraudsters often pressure people into acting quickly, claiming that a bank account is compromised, a tax payment is overdue, or a package requires delivery payment. Remember that legitimate organisations, including your bank, the police, and HMRC, will never demand immediate payment over the phone, ask for your online banking password, or ask you to transfer funds into a safe account.

To safeguard your financial information, follow the Take Five rule: pause and challenge any unexpected request for personal or financial information. Never share one-time passcodes sent to your phone, and avoid clicking links in unverified text messages or emails. Enable two-factor authentication on all sensitive accounts and never allow someone who called you unexpectedly to install remote access software on your computer or phone.

If you receive a suspicious text message, forward it free of charge to 7726, which alerts your mobile network provider to investigate the sender.

If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. This service is operated by the National Cyber Security Centre, which works to take down fraudulent websites and email addresses.

To learn more about current scam alerts and prevention techniques, visit Take Five to Stop Fraud and review official guidance on GOV.UK's fraud prevention hub.