Financial Fraud & Scams: How to Report and Get Help

Discovering that you have been targeted by financial fraud can be deeply distressing, but taking prompt action can protect your remaining funds and give you the best chance of recovering your money.

Your immediate first step should always be contacting your bank or card issuer. You can reach most major UK retail banks directly by dialing 159, a secure national hotline designed to connect you safely to your bank's fraud department. Alternatively, call the phone number on the back of your payment card. Ask your bank to cancel compromised cards, pause pending transactions, and secure your online accounts.

Once your bank has been informed, report the incident to law enforcement. If you live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, submit a report to Action Fraud online or call 0300 123 2040. If you live in Scotland, report fraud directly to Police Scotland by calling 101.

Under Payment Systems Regulator rules across the UK, banks and payment providers are required to reimburse victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams up to £85,000 per claim in most situations. Unless a bank can demonstrate that a customer acted with gross negligence, reimbursement is generally completed within five business days.

If your bank rejects your claim or fails to respond within a reasonable period, you can escalate the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge. You can call their helpline on 0800 023 4567 to start an independent review of your case.

For further assistance with fraud and consumer disputes, you can consult Citizens Advice Scam Support or review national safety guidelines on GOV.UK's fraud advice page.